G/SPS/N/CAN/1428  
 
9 March 2022  
(22-2132) 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):  Cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose (ICS Code: 67.220)  
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 Anticaking 
Agents  to Extend the Use of Cellulose and Microcrystalline Cellulose to Cubed, Diced, 
Grated or Shredded Plant -based Products tha t Resemble Cheese . Language(s):  English 
and French . Number of pages:  3 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/CAN/22_2038_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/CAN/22_2038_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 cellulose as an 
anticaking agent in non -dairy (i.e., plant -based) cheese flavoured preparations that are 
grated, shredded, cubed or diced.  
Both cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose are already permitted as anticaking agents in 
cubed, diced, grated or shredded cheddar cheese and other standardized varieties of 
cheese, as well as unstandardized cubed, diced, grated or shredded cheese preparations.  
The results of the premarket assessmen t support the safety of cellulose and 
microcrystalline cellulose for use as anticaking agents in plant -based products that 
resemble cheese that are cubed, diced, grated or shredded. Consequently, Health Canada 
has extended the use of cellulose and microcry stalline cellulose as described in the 
information document by modifying the List of Permitted Anticaking Agents , effective 
1 March 2022.  
The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in 
this regard and to provide th e appropriate contact information for those wishing to submit 
an inquiry or new scientific information relevant to the safety of these food additives.  
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/1428  
 
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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' Website, 
posted 1 March 2022 (available in English and French):  
https://www.ca nada.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) : 1 March 2022  
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) : 1 March 2022  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 14 May 2022  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Not ification 
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 Anticaking Agents to Extend the Use of 
Cellulose and Microcrystalline Cellulose to Cubed, Diced, Grated or Shredded Plant -based 
Products that Resemble Cheese " is av ailable through the following weblink:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/modification -permitted -anticaking -agents -cellulose -cheese.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/modification -agents -antiagglomerants -autorises -cellulose -fromages.html  
(Fren ch) 
 
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