G/SPS/N/CAN/1144  
 
1 November 2017  
(17-5921) 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 and asparaginase (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 Lists of Permitted Food 
Additives to Extend the Use of (1) Citric Acid and Asparaginase from Aspergillus niger  
ASP72 to Blackstrap Molasses Destined for the Manufacture of Confectionery Glazes for 
Snack Foods and (2) Asparaginase from Aspergillus niger  ASP72 to Green Coffee - 
Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0105. Language(s): English a nd French.  Number of 
pages: 4 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/CAN/17_4942_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/CAN/17_4942_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety 
assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of (1) asparaginase 
from Aspergillus niger  (A. niger ) ASP72 and citric acid in the manufacture of blackstrap 
molasses, and (2) asparaginase from A. nig er ASP72 to treat green coffee.  
Asparaginase from A. Niger ASP72 is already permitted for use as a food enzyme in 
various foods, and asparaginase from two other source organisms is already permitted for 
use to treat green coffee. Asparaginase has not previously been permitted for use in 
blacks trap molasses.  
Citric acid has numerous permitted food additive uses, but it has not previously been 
authorized for use in blackstrap molasses or any other standardized type of molasses.  
As no safety concerns were raised through Health Canada's assessment,  the Department 
has enabled the requested uses of the food additives asparaginase from  A. Niger ASP72 
and citric acid described in the information  document below by updating the List of 
Permitted Food Enzymes  (https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -
nutrition/food -safety/food -additives/lists -permitted/5 -enzymes.html ) and the List of 
Permitted pH Adjusting Agen ts, Acid -Reacting Materials and Water Correcting Agents  
(https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/food -safety/food -
additives/lists -permitted/10 -adjusting -agents.html ), effective 2 October  2017.  
The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in 
this regard and to provide the appropriate contact informati on for any inquiries or for 
those wishing to submit any new scientific information relevant to the safety of these food 
additives.  G/SPS/N/CAN/1144  
 
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  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.  
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 2 October 2017 (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/parti cipation -public -
partenariats.html   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 2 October 2017  
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) : 2 October 2017  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 15 December 2017  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  Nation al Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:  G/SPS/N/CAN/1144  
 
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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 Lists of Permitted Food Additives to Extend the Use of 
(1) Citric Acid and Asparaginase from Aspergillus niger ASP72 to Blackstrap Molasses 
Destined for the Manufacture of Confectionery Glazes for Snack Foods and (2) 
Asparagi nase from Aspergillus niger ASP72 to Green Coffee - Reference Number: 
NOM/ADM -0105" is available through the following weblink:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/food -safety/food -
additives/lists -permitted/aspergillus -niger-asp72.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/salubrite -
aliments/additifs -alimentaires/listes -additifs -alimen taires -autorises -aspergillus -niger-
asp72.html  (French)  
 
or requested from:  
Canada's SPS & TBT Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Global Affairs Canada  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division (TIB)  
111, promenade Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2  
Canada 
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca