G/SPS/N/CAN/1033  
 
14 June 2016  
(16-3245)  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): Potassium Acetate and Potassium Diacetate 
(ICS Codes: 67.220.20, 67.120) 
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: Health Canada's Proposal to Enable the Use of 
Potassium Acetate and Potassium Diacetate as Preservatives in Meat and Poultry Products  Language(s): English and French  Number of pages: 6 and 7 
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety 
assessment of two food additive submission s, one seeking approval for the use of 
potassium acetate and potassium diacetate and the other seeking approval for the use 
of potassium acetate only. These additives are intended for use as class 2 (i.e., antimicrobial) preservatives in a variety of meat and poultry products. 
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 potassium acetate and 
potassium diacetate. 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. 
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  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
standard or related text) The Codex General Standard for Food Additives 
contains provisions for the use of potassium acetate only as a preservative at a 
maximum level of use consistent with GMP in a variety of meat and poultry 
products. G/SPS/N/CAN/1033 
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] 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?   
[X] 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 7 June 2016 (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 Preservatives  
(http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/ad dit/list/11-preserv-conserv-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 Preservatives  
(http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/ad dit/list/11-preserv-conserv-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) : 20 August 2016 
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 "Health Canada's Proposal to Enable the Use of Potassium Acetate and Potassium 
Diacetate as Preservatives in Meat and Poultry Products" is available through the 
following weblink:  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/nop- avp-0017/document-consultation-eng.php  
(English) 
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/nop- avp-0017/document-consultation-fra.php  
(French)