G/SPS/N/CAN/956  
 
17 September 2015  
(15-4773)  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): Polysorbate 80 (ICS Codes: 67.220, 67.220.10, 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 
Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents  to Enable the Use of Polysorbate 
80 in Seasonings and Rice-Based Ready-to-Eat Cereals  Language(s): English and 
French  Number of pages: 4 and 4 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/CAN/15_3702_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/CAN/15_3702_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate received two separate food 
additive submissions seeking approval for the use of polysorbate 80 (polyoxyethylene 
(20) sorbitan monooleate) in seasonings and in rice-based ready-to-eat cereals. 
Polysorbate 80 is already permitted for use in Canada as an emulsifier in several 
standardized and unstandardized foods. The results of Health Canada's evaluation of available scientific data support the safety of polysorbate 80 when used in seasonings 
and in rice-based ready-to-eat cereals as requ ested by the petitioners. Therefore, Health 
Canada has modified the List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening 
Agents  (http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/list/4-emulsif-eng.php ), effective 
15 September 2015, to extend the use of poly sorbate 80 as decribed in the information 
document. 
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 polysorbate 80. Anyone 
wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of this food 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.   G/SPS/N/CAN/956 
 
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  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 15 September 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 Emulsifying, 
Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents . 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 15 September 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 Emulsifying, 
Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents . 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 29 November 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 Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or 
Thickening Agents  to Enable the Use of Polysorbate 80 in Seasonings and Rice-Based 
Ready-to-Eat Cereals" is available through the following weblink:  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/cons ult/nom-adm-0060/index-eng.php  (English) 
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/cons ult/nom-adm-0060/index-fra.php  (French)