G/SPS/N/CAN/1211  
 
9 October 2018  
(18-6223) 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): Ground limestone (ICS Codes: 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 Health Canada's Proposal to Enable the Use 
of Ground Limestone as a Colouring Agent in Unstandardized Confectionery - Reference 
Number: NOP/ADP -0029. Language(s): English and French.  Number of pages: 4 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/CAN/18_5245_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/CAN/18_5245_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: The Federal Government completed a detailed safety 
assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of ground 
limestone as a colouring age nt in hard and soft candies and in edible inks for writing on 
certain confectionery. The results of Health Canada's evaluation of available scientific data 
support the safety of ground limestone for use as a colouring agent in such 
unstandardized confectio nery. Therefore, Health Canada intends to modify the List of 
Permitted Colouring  Agent s (https://www.canada.ca /en/health -canada/services/food -
nutrition/food -safety/food -additives/lists -permitted/3 -colouring -agents.html ) as 
described in the information document referenced below.  
The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's intention 
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.  
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) :  G/SPS/N/CAN/1211  
 
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  [X] None  
Does this prop osed 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 4 October 2018 (available in English and French):  
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)   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 4 October 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) : 4 October 2018  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 17 December 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 Health Canada's Proposal to Enable the Use of Ground Limestone as a 
Colouring Agent in Unstandardized Confectionery - Reference Number: NOP/ADP -0029" 
is available t hrough the following weblink:  
https://www.canada.ca/ en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/limestone -colouring -agent -unstandardized -confectionery/information -
document.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/calcaire -coloration -agent -nonnormalise -confiserie/document -
dinformation.html  (French)  
Canada's SPS and TBT Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division  
Global Affairs Canada  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, Ontario  
K1A 0G2  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca