. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CAN/100/Rev.1
31 October 2002
(02-5997)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English/
French
NOTIFICATION
Revision
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   CANADA
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Health
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):  L-Cysteine (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:   Proposed Amendment
to the Food and Drug Regulations ( 1118 – L-Cysteine) (English and French, pages
3263-3265)
6. Description of content:
Provision currently exists in the Food and Drug Regulations  for the use of another form of
L-Cysteine, namely L-Cysteine hydrochlor ide, as a bleaching, maturing and dough
conditioning agent in a variety of bakery products and in sulphite replacement formulations
to prevent the browning of prepared fruits and vegetables.  Health Canada has received a
submission to permit the use of L-Cysteine in fruit flavoured nutritional supplements as an
antioxidant to inhibit the oxidation of ascorbic acid and the polyunsaturated fatty acids inthese products.
Evaluation of available data supports the effectiveness and safety of the use of L-Cysteine
to extend the shelf life of fruit flavoured nutritional supplements.  There is no safety
concern with this use because L-Cysteine is a common component of protein and is already
part of the consumer’s daily diet.
Health Canada subsequently received a proposal that the use of L-Cysteine be extended to
all nutritional supplements rather than being restricted to fruit flavoured nutritional
supplements.  Health Canada has considered this suggestion and agrees that the use of
L-Cysteine should be permitted in all nutritional supplements, since there is no safety
concern with this extended use.
This proposed amendment to the Food and Drug Regulations would permit the optional
addition of L-Cysteine in all nutritional supplements, as set out in section B.24.201 of the
Regulations, at a maximum level of use consistent with good manufacturing.G/SPS/N/CAN/100/Rev.1
Page 2
7. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [   ] plant protection,
[  ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,  [   ] protect territory from other
damage from pests
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, 26 October 2002 (Available in English and French).
10. Proposed date of adoption:   Not stated
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   Not stated
12. Final date for comments:   9 January 2003
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://canada.gc.ca/gazette/part1/pdf/g1-13643.pdf