G/SPS/N/CAN/725  
 
20 September 2013  
(13-5032)  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; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (ICS Codes: 67.080, 
67.160.10, 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 Food 
Additives with Other Generally Accepted Uses  to Enable the Use of Sodium 
Carboxymethyl Cellulose to Inhibit Crystal Formation in Canned Mandarin Oranges and 
Wine - Document Reference number: NOM/ADM-0017  Language(s): English and 
French  Number of pages: 3 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2013/sps/CAN/13_3746_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2013/sps/CAN/13_3746_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety 
assessment of three separate food additive submissions seeking approval for the use of 
sodium carboxymethyl cellulose to inhibit crystal formation in a variety of foods. 
This food additive is currently permitted in canned mandarin oranges and wine by two 
separate Interim Marketing Authorizations (IMAs). 
As no safety concerns were raised through this assessment, the Department has enabled 
its use as described in the information document by updating the List of Permitted Food 
Additives with Other Generally Accepted Uses , effective 11 September 2013. These 
modifications will replace the previous IMAs. 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 those wishing to submit any new 
scientific information relevant to the safety of this food additive. 
Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific 
information on the safety in use of any food additive, including sodium carboxymethyl 
cellulose. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of this additive 
or to submit any inquiries may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically. 
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/725 
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international st andard? 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 11 September 2013 (available in English and French): http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/index-eng.php  (English) 
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/index-fra.php  (French)   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : The proposed food additive use will be 
legally enabled once it is published in Health Canada's List of Permitted Food Additives 
with Other Generally Accepted Uses  (http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/list/8-other-
autre-eng.php ). 
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 food additive use noted in this document comes into force 
the day on which the modification is made to the List of Permitted Food Additives with 
Other Generally Accepted Uses  (http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/list/8-other-
autre-eng.php ). 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 24 November 2013 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
13. Texts available from: [ ] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
The electronic version of: Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Food Additives 
w i t h  O t h e r  G e n e r a l l y  A c c e p t e d  U s e s  t o  E n a b l e  t h e  U s e  o f  S o d i u m  C a r b o x y m e t h y l  Cellulose to Inhibit Crystal Formation in Canned Mandarin Oranges and Wine - Document 
Reference number: NOM/ADM-0017  can be downloaded at:  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/cons ult/nom-adm-0017/index-eng.php  (English) 
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/cons ult/nom-adm-0017/index-fra.php  (French)