G/SPS/N/CAN/1341  
 
5 October 2020  
(20-6774) 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):  Citric Acid Esters of Mono - and Diglycerides (ICS Codes: 67.220.20; 
67.230)  
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 
Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents  to Enable the Use of Citric Acid 
Esters of Mono - and Diglycerides (CITR EM) as an Emulsifier in Whole Protein -Based Infant 
Formulas for Special Dietary Purposes - Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0153. 
Language(s):  English and French . Number of pages:  3 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/CAN/20_5884_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/CAN/20_5884_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 citric acid esters 
of mono - and diglycerides (CITREM) in whole protein -based infant formulas for special 
dietary purposes.  
CITREM is already permitted for use as an emulsifying agent in  infant formula based on 
crystalline amino acids or protein hydrolysates, or both.  
The results of the premarket assessment support the safety of CITREM for its requested 
use. Consequently, Health Canada has enabled the use of CITREM described in the 
inform ation document by modifying the List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing 
or Thickening Agents , effective 18 September 2020.  
The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision 
in this regard and to provide the a ppropriate contact information for any inquiries or for 
those wishing to submit any 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/1341  
 
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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 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 " Web site, posted 
18 September 2020 (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) : 18 September 2020  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six mont hs from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 18 September 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 1 December 2020  
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/1341  
 
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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 Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or 
Thickening Agents to Enable the Use of Citric Acid Esters of Mono - and Diglycerides 
(CITREM) as an Emulsifier in Whole Protein -Based Infant Formulas for Special Dietary 
Purposes - Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0153" is avai lable through the following 
weblink:  
https://www.ca nada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/modification -list-permitted -emulsifying -agents -citric-esters -infant -
formulas.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/modification -liste-agents -emulsifiants -permettre -esters -citriques -
preparations -nourrissons.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