G/SPS/N/CAN/658  
 
20 March 2013  
(13-1529)  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):  Monk fruit extract (Luo Han Guo extract), as a 
sweetener in table-top sweeteners (ICS Code: 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:  Consultation Document on Health Canada's Proposal 
to Enable the Use of a New Food Additive, Monk Fruit Extract (Luo Han Guo Extract), as a Sweetener in Table-Top Sweeteners  Language(s):  English and French  Number of 
pages:  4 and 4 
6. Description of content:  This document provides information on Health Canada's 
proposal to modify the List of Permitted Sweeteners  to enable the use of a new additive, 
monk fruit extract (luo han guo extract), as a sweetener in table-top sweeteners. 
Health Canada's Food Directorate has completed a detailed safety assessment of a food 
additive submission seeking to enable th e use of monk fruit extract (luo han guo 
extract), as a sweetener in table-top sweeteners. 
As no safety concerns were raised through this assessment the Department is proposing 
to enable its use as described in the information document 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 comments or any new scientific information relevant to the safety of this 
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.    G/SPS/N/CAN/658 
 
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8. Is there a relevant international st andard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or seri al 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 14 March 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 Sweeteners  
(http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/ list/9-sweetener-edulcorant-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 uses noted in this document come into force 
the day on which the modifications are made to the List of Permitted Sweeteners  
(http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/ list/9-sweetener-edulcorant-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) :  27 May 2013 
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. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
The electronic version of: "Consultation Document on Health Canada's Proposal to 
Enable the Use of a New Food Additive, Monk Fruit Extract (Luo Han Guo Extract), as a 
Sweetener in Table-Top Sweeteners" can be downloaded at:  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/2013-n op-adp-monk-fruit-moines/index-eng.php  
(English) 
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/2013-n op-adp-monk-fruit-moines/index-fra.php  
(French)