WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/CAN/640 
9 November 2012  
 (12-6187) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  CANADA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Grain, food and feed products 
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:  Proposed Domestic Policy on the Management of Low-
Level Presence of Genetically Modified Crops in Imports and its Associated Implementation Framework  Language(s):  English and French  Number of pages:  21 
and 24 
6. Description of content:  Canada wishes to notify WTO Members of its public consultation 
on the Proposed Domestic Policy on the M anagement of Low-Level Presence of 
Genetically Modified Crops in  Imports and its Associated  Implementation Framework . 
The objectives of the proposed policy are to:  mi nimize disruptions to trade;  facilitate an 
effective and efficient risk-based approach to managing LLP;  and provide transparency and predictability for importers and exporters,  while maintaining the protection of health 
and safety of humans, animals and the envi ronment.  The proposed policy has been 
developed in accordance with Canada's science- based framework to protect the health and 
safety of humans, animals and the environment. 
As per the guidance in paragraph 43 in G/SPS/ 7/Rev.3, the SPS elements of this proposed 
policy and framework are as follows:  
(1) the GM crop has been approved for food in at least one country and recognition that 
the food safety assessment conducted by that country is consistent with Codex Food 
Safety Assessment Guidelines; 
(2) a risk management approach for grain where a Threshold Level will only be 
applicable for an individual GM crop after a Canadian risk assessment has determined 
that the presence of the GM crop at the pr oposed level is unlikely to pose a risk to 
food, feed or environmental safety;  and 
 
 G/SPS/N/CAN/640 
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(3) a risk management approach for when an  unauthorized GM crop is detected in a 
processed grain product intended for food or feed use. 
This has also been notified under TBT notification G/TBT/N/CAN/376. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [X] food safety , [X] animal health, [X] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.    
8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text) Codex Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of 
Foods Derived from recombinant -DNA plants:  (CAC/GL/45-2003), including 
Annex 3:   Food Safety Assessment in Situat ions of Low-Level Presence of 
recombinant-DNA Plant Material in Food  
[ ] 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:   
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's website:  
http://www.agr.gc.ca/llp  (English) 
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfq  (French)   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  Not applicable 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  Not applicable 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  Not applicable.  This is part of a public consultation process. 
[X] Trade facilitating measure    G/SPS/N/CAN/640 
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12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  19 January 2013 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:  
By email to LLP-PFC@agr.gc.ca  with subject line:  "Low Level Presence Notification" 
or by postal mail to: Technical Trade Policy Division Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Tower 5, Floor 3, Room 145 Ottawa, Ontario 
Canada K1A 0C5 
13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification  Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
The consultation is available at:  
http://www.agr.gc.ca/llp  (English) 
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfq  (French)