WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/CAN/630 
7 August 2012  
 (12-4350) 
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 numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Steviol glycosides (ICS Codes: 67.040, 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:  Information and Consultation Document on Health 
Canada's Proposal to Allow the Use of the Food Additive Steviol Glycosides as a Table-
Top Sweetener and as a Sweetener in Certain Food Categories  Language(s):  English and 
French  Number of pages:  14 and 15 
6. Description of content:  This document provides informati on on Health Canada's proposal 
to amend the Food and Drug Regulations  ("Regulations") to approve the use of the food 
additive steviol glycosides as a table-top sw eetener and as a sweetener in certain food 
categories. 
Health Canada has received three separate submissions requesting the use of the food 
additive steviol glycosides as a sweetener.  Wh ile one submission only requested the use of 
steviol glycosides in table-top sweeteners, the other two have requested that steviol 
glycosides be permitted for use in a variety of unstandardized foods at maximum levels of 
use. 
These unstandardized foods include: table-top sweeteners; breakfast cereals; beverage 
mixes; unstandardized beverage mixes; unstandardized beverage concentrates; 
unstandardized dessert mixes; fillings; fillings mixes; toppings; topping mixes; 
unstandardized desserts; yogurt; breath freshen er products; chewing gum; unstandardized 
fruit spreads; unstandardized purées and sauces;  unstandardized table syrup; peanut 
spreads;  nut spreads; unstandardized sal ad dressings; unstandardized condiments; 
confectionery glazes for snack foods; sweetened  seasonings or coating mixes for snack 
foods; unstandardized confectionery; unsta ndardized confectionery coatings; and 
unstandardized bakery products  and baking mixes.  These maximum levels of use generally 
correspond to the levels currently permitted for steviol glycosides under the Codex Alimentarius Commission's General St andard for Food Additives (GSFA). G/SPS/N/CAN/630 
Page 2  
 
  Food additives undergo pre-market approval in Canada.  Permitted food additives are listed 
in the food additive tables in Division 16, Part B of the Regulations.  Table IX lists those 
food additives that may be used as sweeteners.  Table IX does not currently provide for the 
use of steviol glycosides.  
Health Canada has completed a safety assessment  of all relevant information, including 
information provided in support of the proposed  use of steviol glycosides as described in 
three food additive submissions, and determined that there are no health or safety concerns 
associated with the use of stev iol glycosides in the prescribed applications.  Furthermore, 
the Department has determined that the petiti oners have satisfactorily met the requirements 
for a food additive submission outlined in Section B.16.002 of the Regulations.  
Therefore, Health Canada is proposing to allo w steviol glycosides to be legally enabled for 
use as described in the following technical consultation document. 
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 stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text)  
 Codex Alimentarius 
 During its latest review in 2008 of the safety of steviol glycosides, JECFA 
established a full ADI of 4 mg/kg bw, expressed as steviol equivalents, for steviol 
glycosides.  The Codex General Standa rd for Food Additives (GSFA) now has 
provisions for the use of steviol glycosides in a wide variety of food categories at various levels of use (availa ble in English and French): 
 http://www.codexalimentarius.net/downloa d/standards/4/CXS_192e.pdf (English) 
 http://www.codexalimentarius.net/downloa d/standards/4/CXS_192f.pdf (French) 
[ ] 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 Invol vement and Partners hips" Website, posted 
31 July 2012 (available in English and French):  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-a n/consult/index-eng.php  (English) 
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/index-fra.php  (French)  G/SPS/N/CAN/630 
 Page 3 
 
 
  10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  Normally within four to five months from the 
posting of the Information Document  on the Health Canada website. 
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 Regulations come into force on the day on which they are adopted in the 
Canada Gazette , Part II. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  14 October 2012 
Agency or authority designated to handl e 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 add ress (if available) of other body:   The electronic 
version of:  "Information a nd Consultation Document on Health Canada's Proposal to 
Allow the Use of the Food Additive Steviol Gl ycosides as a Table-Top Sweetener and as a 
Sweetener in Certain Food Cate gories" can be downloaded at:  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/s teviol/document-consultation-eng.php  (English) 
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/s teviol/document-consultation-fra.php  (French)