G/SPS/N/CAN/1173  
 
11 June 2018  
(18-3618) 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): Calcium propionate and potassium sorbate (ICS Codes: 67.220.20)  
4. Regions or countri es 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 
Preservatives to Increase the Maximum Level of Use of Calcium Propionate and Potassium 
Sorbate in Roti – Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0115. Language(s): English and French.  
Number of pages: 3 and 4  
https:// members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/CAN/18_2868_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/CAN/18_2868_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate received a food additive 
submission seeking an increase in the maximum level of use of calcium propionate and 
potassium sorbate, respectively, in roti, a traditional flatbread.  
Calcium propionate and potassium sorbate have already been permitted as preservatives 
in roti, an unstandardized food, at maximum levels of 2,000 parts per million (p.p.m.) 
(calculated as propionic acid) and 1,000 p.p.m (calculated as sorbic acid), respectively. 
These levels were requested to be incre ased to 4000 p.p.m. and 5000 p.p.m., 
respectively, the same levels that are permitted in soft flour tortillas, a flatbread similar to 
roti, to increase the shelf life of roti.  
Health Canada did not identify any food safety concerns with permitting roti to contain 
these preservatives at the same levels that are permitted in soft flour tortillas. Therefore, 
as explained in the information document below, the Department has increased the 
maximum level use of calcium propionate and potassium sorbate in roti by modifying 
Part 3 of the List of Permitted Preservatives, effective 25 May  2018.  
The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in 
this regard and to provide contact information for inquiries or for those wishing to su bmit 
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 da mage from pests.  G/SPS/N/CAN/1173  
 
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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, pos ted 
25 May 2018:  
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)  (available  in English and French)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 25 May 2018  
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) : 25 May 2018  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 7 August 2018  
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:  
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 Preservatives to Increase the Maximum 
Level of Use of Calcium Propionate and Potassium Sorbate in Roti – Reference Number: 
NOM/ADM -0115"  is available through the following weblink:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/mo dification -permitted -preservatives -maximum -calcium -roti.html  (English)  
https:// www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/modification -autorises -limites -calcium -roti.html  (French)  
or requested from:  
Canada's SPS & TBT Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Global Affairs Canada  
Techn ical Barriers and Regulations Division  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G2  
Canada  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca