G/SPS/N/CAN/1381  
31 March 2021  
(21-2653) 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):  Hydrochloric Acid (ICS Code: 67.220.20)  
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 pH 
Adjusting Agents, Acid -Reacting Materials and Water Correcting Agents to Enable the Use 
of Hydrochloric Acid in Unstandardized Foods . Language(s):  English an d French . Number 
of pages:  3 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/CAN/21_2184_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/CAN/21_2184_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Health Canada's Food Directorate previously completed a 
premarke t safety assessment of the use of hydrochloric acid as a pH adjusting agent in 
specific unstandardized foods.  
Hydrochloric acid is already permitted for use as a pH adjusting agent in a number of 
unstandardized foods. The results of the Food Directorate's previous premarket 
assessment supports the safety of hydrochloric acid for use in all unstandardized foods at 
a maximum level of Good Manufacturing Practice. Consequently, Health Canada has 
extended the use of hydrochloric acid as described in the informat ion document by 
modifying the List of Permitted pH Adjusting Agents, Acid -Reacting Materials and Water 
Correcting Agents, effective 12 March 2021.  
The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in 
this regard and to p rovide the appropriate contact information for any inquiries or 
feedback on this modification.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territor y from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  G/SPS/N/CAN/1381  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international st andard?  
[ ] 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 12 March 2021:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/publ ic-involvement -
partnerships.html  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats.html  (available in English and French)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 12 March 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) : 12 March  2021 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 25 May 2021  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) 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 pH Adjusting Agents, Acid -Reacting 
Materials and Water Correcting Agents to Enable the Use of Hydrochloric Acid in 
Unstandardized Foods - Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0163" is available through the 
following weblinks:  
https: //www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/notice -list-ph-adjusting -agents -acid-reacting -materials -water -correcting -
agents.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/avis -liste-agents -rajusteurs -ph-substances -reaction -acide-agents -correcteurs -
eau-autorises.html  (French)  
Canada's Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division  
Global Affairs Canada  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0 G2 
Canada  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca