G/SPS/N/CAN/880
2 October 2014 
(14-5553)  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): Tripotassium Phosphate (Potassium Phosphate, 
Tribasic), Potassium Tripolyphosphate, Sodium Potassium Tripolyphosphate and Sodium Potassium Hexametaphosphate (ICS Codes: 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: Notice of Proposal to Enable the Use of Tripotassium 
Phosphate (Potassium Phosphate, Tribasic), Potassium Tripolyphosphate, Sodium 
Potassium Tripolyphosphate and Sodium Potassium Hexametaphosphate in Various 
Standardized and Unstandardized Foods  Language(s): English and French  Number of 
pages: 7 and 8 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2014/sps/CAN/14_4241_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2014/sps/CAN/14_4241_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety 
assessment of five food additive submissions, that together, seek approval for the use of 
tripotassium phosphate (potassium phosphate, tribasic), potassium tripolyphosphate, 
sodium potassium tripolyphosphate and sodium potassium hexametaphosphate in those 
foods where trisodium phosphate (sodium phosph ate, tribasic), sodium tripolyphosphate 
and sodium hexametaphosphate are already permitted. 
As no safety concerns were raised through this assessment, it is the intention of Health 
Canada to enable these food additives, as  described in the information document. 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 these 
food additives. 
Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific 
information on the safety in use of any food additive, including tripotassium phosphate 
(potassium phosphate, tribasic), potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium potassium tripolyphosphate and sodium potassium hexametaphosphate. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of these food additives or to submit any inquiries 
may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically. G/SPS/N/CAN/880 
 
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  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) (CODEX STAN 192-1995) 
[ ] 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: Tripotassium phosphate and potassium tripolyphosphate are 
listed in the Codex General Standard for F ood Additives (GSFA) for use in foods where 
all other phosphates are allowed. While sodium potassium tripolyphosphate and sodium 
potassium hexametaphosphate are not specif ically listed in the GSFA, the sodium 
analogue and potassium analogues of these two additives are listed. 
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available: Health 
Canada's Food and Nutrition - "Public Involvement and Partnerships" Website, posted 11 September 2014: 
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 Lists of Permitted Food Additives . 
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 Lists of Permitted Food Additives . 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 24 November 2014 
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 Proposal to Enable the Use of Tripotassium Phosphate (Potassium 
Phosphate, Tribasic), Potassium Tripolypho sphate, Sodium Potassium Tripolyphosphate 
and Sodium Potassium Hexametaphosphate in Various Standardized and Unstandardized Foods " can be downloaded at:  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/nop- adm-0008/document-consultation-eng.php  
(English)  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/nop- adm-0008/document-consultation-fra.php  
(French)