G/SPS/N/CAN/964  
 
19 October 2015  
(15-5493)  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): Xylanase from Bacillus subtilis  Gizα3508 (ICS Codes: 
67.220, 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: Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Food 
Enzymes  to Enable the Use of Xylanase from Bacillus subtilis  Gizα3508 in Bread, Flour, 
Whole Wheat Flour and Unstandardized Bakery Products  Language(s): English and 
French  Number of pages: 3 and 4 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/CAN/15_4160_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/CAN/15_4160_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety 
assessment of a food additive submission s eeking approval for the use of the enzyme 
xylanase from Bacillus subtilis  Gizα3508, in bread, flour, whole wheat flour and 
unstandardized bakery products. 
Xylanase from certain other strains of B. subtilis  is already permitted for use in the 
manufacture of bread, flour, whole wheat flour and unstandardized bakery products. 
The results of Health Canada's evaluation of available scientific data support the safety 
and efficacy of xylanase obtained from B. subtilis  Gizα3508 when used as requested by 
the petitioner. Therefore, Health Canada has modified the List of Permitted Food 
Enzymes  (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securi t/addit/list/5-enzymes-eng.php ), effective 
14 October 2015. 
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 xylanase. Anyone wishing 
to submit new scientific information on the us e of this food additive or to submit any 
inquiries may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically. G/SPS/N/CAN/964 
 
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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 st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
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 14 October 2015 (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 Enzymes . 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 14 October 2015 
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 
on the day on which the modifications are made to the List of Permitted Food Enzymes . 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 28 December 2015 
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. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notifi cation 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 Food Enzymes  to Enable the Use of 
Xylanase from Bacillus subtilis  Gizα3508 in Bread, Flour, Whole Wheat Flour and 
Unstandardized Bakery Products" is av ailable through the following weblink:  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/cons ult/nom-adm-0062/index-eng.php  (English) 
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/cons ult/nom-adm-0062/index-fra.php  (French)