G/SPS/N/CAN/709  
 
17 July 2013  
(13-3833)  Page: 1/3  
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): Sodium Tripolyphosphate or Sodium 
Hexametaphosphate Singly; a Combination of Sodium Hexametaphosphate and Sodium Carbonate; and a Combination of Sodium Tr ipolyphosphate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate 
and Sodium Pyrophosphate, Tetrabasic in Frozen Squid (ICS Codes: 67.220.20, 
67.120.30) 
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 
Additives with Other Generally Accepted Uses to Enable the Use of Sodium Tripolyphosphate or Sodium Hexametaphosphate Singly; a Combination of Sodium 
Hexametaphosphate and Sodium Carbonate; and a Combination of Sodium 
Tripolyphosphate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate and Sodium Pyrophosphate, Tetrabasic in 
Frozen Squid - Document Reference number: NOM/ADM-0013  Language(s): English 
and French  Number of pages: 6 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2013/sps/CAN/13_2827_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2013/sps/CAN/13_2827_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety 
assessment of a food additive seeking approv al for the use of sodium tripolyphosphate 
or sodium hexametaphosphate singly; a combination of sodium hexametaphosphate and 
sodium carbonate; and a combination of sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium acid 
pyrophosphate and sodium pyrophosphate, te trabasic to reduce thaw drip in added 
frozen squid. 
Health Canada previously approved the us e of these food additive in other food 
applications described in the List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Generally Accepted Uses. 
As no safety concerns were raised thro ugh this assessment, and since these food 
additives are already approved for use in other foods in Canada, the Department has 
enabling their use as described in the information document below by updating the List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Generally Accepted Uses, effective July 11, 2013. 
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 these 
food additives. G/SPS/N/CAN/709 
 
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  Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific 
information on the safety in use of any food additive, including sodium tripolyphosphate, 
sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, 
tetrabasic, or sodium carbonate. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of this additive or to submit any inquiries may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically. 
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:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) Provision exists in the Codex Alimentarius General 
Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) for the use of phosphates, which includes 
sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium acid 
pyrophosphate and sodium pyrophosphate, te trabasic, in frozen fish, fish fillets, 
and fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms at a maximum level of 2,200 mg/kg (0.22%) calculated as phosphorus (equivalent to 
1.01% as sodium phosphate, dibasic).  Th e GSFA also permits the use of sodium 
carbonate in semi-preserved, as well as  preserved, fish and fish products, 
including molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms at levels consistent with Good 
Manufacturing Practice (GMP). 
[ ] 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?   
[ ] Yes   [X] 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" Web site, posted 11 July 2013 
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) 
(available in English and 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 Additives with Other Generally Accepted Uses. (" http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/list/8-
other-autre-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 use noted in this document comes into force 
the day on which the modifications are made to the List of Permitted Food Additives with 
Other Generally Accepted Uses. (" http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/list/8-other-
autre-eng.php "). 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure G/SPS/N/CAN/709 
 
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  12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 25 September 2013 
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. Texts available from: [ ] National Notifi cation Authority, [ ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
The electronic version of: "Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Food Additives 
with Other Generally Accepted Uses to Enable the Use of Sodium Tripolyphosphate or 
Sodium Hexametaphosphate Singly; a Combination of Sodium Hexametaphosphate and Sodium Carbonate; and a Combination of Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate and Sodium Pyrophosphate, Tetrabasic in Frozen Squid - Document 
Reference number: NOM/ADM-0013" can be ordered at:  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/cons ult/nom-adm-0013/index-eng.php  (English) 
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/cons ult/nom-adm-0013/index-fra.php  (French)