G/SPS/N/CAN/1231/Add.1  
 
6 August 2019  
(19-5113) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on 29 July 2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Canada . 
 
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Notice of Modification to the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods to Add 
a Maximum Level for Cyanide in Apricot Kernels - Reference Number: NOM/ADM C -2019-1 
Health Canada published a Proposal to add cyanide in apricot kernels to the List of Contaminants and 
Other Adulterating Substances in Foods - Reference Number : NOP/ADP C -2018-1, which outlined 
three different options. The proposal was published on 18 December 2018 and was open for public 
comment for 75 days.  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/proposal -update -maximum -levels -cyanide -apricot -kernals.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliment s-nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/proposition -visant -mettre -jour-concentrations -maximales -cyanure -amandes -
apricots.html  (French)  
A number of comments were submitted in response to this Notice of Proposal and were taken into 
consideration in the  selection of the most suitable risk management approach. These comments are 
summarized in the Notice of Modification document below.  
Health Canada's selected option is to add a new ML of 20 parts per million (ppm) total extractable 
cyanide in apricot kern els sold for human consumption, which is also applicable to apricot kernels 
used as an ingredient in other foods, to the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances 
in Foods.  
Therefore, Health Canada will modify the regulatory List of Contaminan ts and Other Adulterating 
Substances in Foods, effective 25 January 2020, 6 months from the day this notice is published.  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/food -safety/chemical -
contaminants/contaminants -adulterating -substances -foods.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/salubrite -
alimen ts/contaminants -chimiques/contaminants -adulterantes -aliments.html  (French)  
The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in this regard 
and to provide the appropriate contact information for any inquiries or for thos e wishing to submit 
any new information relevant to Health Canada's scientific assessment.  G/SPS/N/CAN/1231/Add.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  This addendum concerns a:  
[ ] Modification of final date for comments  
[X] Notification of adoption, publication or entry into force of regulation  
[ ] Modification of content and/or scope of previously notified draft regulation  
[ ] Withdrawal of proposed regulation  
[ ] Change in proposed date of adoption, publication or date of entry into force  
[ ] Other:  
Comment period: (If the addendum extends the scope of the previously notified measure 
in terms of products and/or potentially affected Members, a new deadline for receipt of 
comments should be provided, normally of at least 60 calendar days. Under other 
circumstances, such as extension of  originally announced final date for comments, the 
comment period provided in the addendum may vary.)  
[ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the addendum to the notification and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable  
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X]  National Notification Authority, 
[ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other 
body:  
  
Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. 
Address, fax num ber and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
The electronic version of: "Notice of Modification to the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating 
Substances in Foods to Add a Maximum Level for Cyanide in Apricot Kernels - Reference Number: 
NOM/AD M-C-2019-1" it available through:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/servi ces/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/modification -permitted -maximum -level-cyanide -apricot -kernels.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/modification -enzymes -alimentaires -concentration -maximale -cyanure -noyaux -
abricot.htm l (French)  
or requested from:  
Canada’s SPS and TBT Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division  
Global Affairs Canada  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, Ontario  
K1A 0G2  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca  
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