. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CAN/185
29 August 2003
(03-4526)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English/
French
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   CANADA
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:   Health Canada
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where
applicable):  Talc (ICS: 67.220.20)
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Not
stated
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Interim Marketing
Authorization regarding the use of talc as a dusting agent in the manufacture of chewing
gum (Available in English and French; page 2502)
6. Description of content:  Provision currently exists in Table VIII to section B.16.100 of the
Food and Drug Regulations for the use of talc as a coating agent on rice and as a filler in
chewing gum base, at maximum levels of use consistent with good manufacturing practice.Health Canada has received a submission to permit the use of talc as a dusting agent in the
manufacture of chewing gum at a maximum level of use consistent with good
manufacturing practice.
This use of talc will benefit consumers through the increased availability of quality
chewing gum products. It will also benefit the industry by facilitating their production.
Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to recommend that the Food and Drug
Regulations be amended to permit the use of talc as a dusting agent in the manufacture of
chewing gum at a maximum level of use consistent with good manufacturing practice.
As a means to improve the responsiveness of the regulatory system, an Interim Marketing
Authorization (IMA) is being issued to permit the immediate use of talc, as indicated
above, while the regulatory process is undertaken to formally amend the Regulations.  Arevision to this notification will be published at the start of the amendment process and
Members will be given the opportunity at that time to submit comments on this proposed
measure.
7. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [   ] plant protection,
[  ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or di sease,  [   ]  protect territory from other
damage from pestsG/SPS/N/CAN/185
Page 2
8. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [ X ] None
If an international standard , guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Canada Gazette,
Part I, 16 August 2003 (Available in English and French)
10. Proposed date of adoption:   Immediate for this IMA. For the final regulation, will be stated
in subsequent Revision or A ddendum to this notification.
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   Immediate for this IMA. For the final regulation, will be
stated in subsequent Revision or  Addendum to this notification.
12. Final date for comments:  This document is not for comment at this time.  A comment
period will be provided in a Revision of this notification.
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority,  [ X ]  National enquiry point,
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
The electronic version of the regulatory text can be downloaded at:
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2003/20030816/pdf/g1-13733.pdf