G/SPS/N/CAN/1250  
 
19 June 2019  
(19-4183) 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):  Maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in polished (white) and husked 
(brown) rice (ICS Code: 67.060)  
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:  Health Canada's Proposal to Add Maximum Levels for 
Inorganic Arsenic in Polished (White) and Husked (Brown) Rice to the List of Contaminants 
and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods - Reference Number: NOP/ADP C -2019-2. 
Language(s):  English and French . Number of pages:  5 
6. Description of content:  Health Canada has conducted a scientific assessment which 
supports the establishment of maximum levels (MLs) for inorganic arsenic in polished 
(white) and husked (brown) rice. These MLs would also apply to these types of rice when 
used as ingredients in o ther foods.  
The Government is also collecting more data on rice -based foods, including products for 
infants and young children. This will inform the Department's future consideration of 
whether additional MLs for such foods are required. If it is determine d that additional MLs 
for other rice -based foods are warranted, then Health Canada will announce its intention 
to establish these MLs via a separate notice.  
The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's intention 
in this rega rd and to provide the appropriate contact information for any inquiries or 
feedback on the new maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in rice and the proposed next 
steps for other rice -based foods.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal hea lth, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : In 2014 and 2016, the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission established MLs of 0.2 ppm and 0.35 ppm for inorganic arsenic in 
polished (white) and husked (brown) rice, respectively (CODEX STAN 193 -1995). 
The proposed MLs by Health Canada align with those established by the Codex 
Alimentarius.  G/SPS/N/CAN/1250  
 
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  [ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] 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 14 June 2019 (available in English and French):  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats.html  (French)   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : The proposed ML will be legally enabled 
once it is published in Health Canada's  List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating 
Substances in Foods ( https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -
nutrition/food -safety/chemical -contaminants/contaminants -adulterating -substances -
foods.html ). 
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) : The ML noted in this document comes into force the day on which 
the modification is made to the  List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances 
in Foods ( https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/food -
safety/chemical -contaminants/contami nants -adulterating -substances -foods.html ). 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 27 August 2019  
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/1250  
 
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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:   
Health Canada's Proposal to Add Maximum Levels for Inorganic Arsenic in Polished 
(White) and Husked (Brown) Rice to the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating 
Substances in Foods - Reference Number: NOP/AD P C-2019-2 is available through the 
following weblinks:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/proposal -add-maximum -levels -inorganic -arsenic -white -and-brown -rice-
list-of-contaminants -other -adulterating -substances/document.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/proposition -ajouter -concentrations -maximales -arsenic -inorganique -dans-
riz-blanc -et-riz-brun-liste-contaminants -autres -substances -
adulterantes/document .html  (French)  
 
Canada's Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
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Canada  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc .ca