G/SPS/N/CAN/1368  
 
4 February 2021  
(21-0911) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  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):  Caramel in flavoured cheddar cheese (ICS Codes: 67.220.20; 
67.100.30)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Colouring 
Agents  to Enable the Use of Caramel in Flavoured Cheddar Cheese - Reference Number: 
NOM/ADM -0158. Language(s):  English and French . Number of pages:  3 and 4  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/CAN/21_0827_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/CAN/21_0827_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a premarket safety 
assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of caramel as a 
colouring agent in a flavouring preparation used in the manufacture of flavoured cheddar 
cheese. The caramel is added to the flavouring preparation to improve the visibilit y of 
swirls of the flavouring preparation in the finished cheese. The caramel is not intended to 
impart colour to the entire cheese.  
Caramel is already permitted for use in Canada as a colouring agent in various 
standardized and unstandardized foods.  
The r esults of the premarket assessment support the safety of caramel for its requested 
use. Consequently, Health Canada has enabled the use of caramel described in the 
information document below by modifying the List of Permitted Colouring Agents , 
effective 22  January 2021.  
The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision 
in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for inquiries or for those 
wishing to submit new scientific information relevant to the s afety of this food additive.  
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. Is there a relevant internati onal standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  G/SPS/N/CAN/1368  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
Health  Canada's Food and Nutrition - 'Public Involvement and Partnerships' Website, 
posted 22 January 2021 (available in English and French):  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships.html  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats.html   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 22 January 2021  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 22 January 2021  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 7 April 2021  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if avail able) of other body:   
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
The "Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Colouring Agents to Enable the Use of 
Caramel in Flavoured Cheddar Cheese - Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0158" is available 
through the following web link:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/modification -permitted -food-colouring -agents -caramel -flavoured-cheddar -
cheese.html  (English)  
https://w ww.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/modification -alimentaires -colorants -permettre -caramel -fromage -cheddar -
aromatis.html  (French)  
 
Canada's Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers an d Regulations Division  
Global Affairs Canada  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0G2  
Canada  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca