G/SPS/N/CAN/1373  
 
15 February 2021  
(21-1254) Page: 1/3 
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):  Spirulina  extract (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 Colouring 
Agents  to Extend the Use of Spirulina  Extract to Certain Unstandardized Foods - Reference 
Number: NOM/ADM -0160. Language(s):  English and French . Number of pages:  4 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/CAN/21_1136_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/CAN/21_1136_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 Spirulina  extract 
in various foods.  
Spirulina  extract is already permitted for use as a colouring agent in a variety of foods at 
a maximum level consistent with Good Manufacturing Pract ice. The results of the 
premarket assessment support the safety of Spirulina  extract for the new uses of interest 
to the petitioner. Consequently, Health Canada has extended the use of Spirulina  extract 
as described in the information document by modifying  the List of Permitted Colouring 
Agents , effective 8 February 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 t o submit new scientific information relevant to the safety 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.   G/SPS/N/CAN/1373  
 
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  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) :  
[ ] 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 8 February 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/aliment s-nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats.html   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 8 February 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) : 8 February 2021  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 23 April 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:   G/SPS/N/CAN/1373  
 
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  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 Extend the Use of 
Spirulina Extract to Certain Unstandardized Foods - Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0160" 
is available through the following web link:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/modification -list-permitted -colouring -agents -extend -spirulina -
unstandardized -foods.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/modification -liste-colorants -autorises -permettre -spirulina -aliments -non-
normalises.html  (French)  
 
Canada's Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers and 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