G/SPS/N/CAN/990  
 
21 January 2016  
(16-0439)  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): Steviol glycosides containing the steviol glycoside 
"rebaudioside M" (Reb M) (ICS Code: 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 Modification to the List of Permitted 
Sweeteners  to Enable the Use of Rebaudioside M as a Sweetener in Various 
Unstandardized Foods - Reference Number: NOM/ADM-0065  Language(s): English and 
French  Number of pages: 5 and 6 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/CAN/16_0275_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/CAN/16_0275_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety 
assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of steviol 
glycosides containing the steviol glycoside "rebaudioside M" (Reb M) as a high-intensity 
sweetener in the same food categories and under the same conditions of use as the currently-permitted steviol glycosides. 
Reb M is one of a number of steviol glycosides that are naturally present in the stevia 
leaf, and already approved for use as a food additive in Canada. 
As no safety concerns were raised through Health Canada's assessment the Department 
has enabled the food additive use of steviol glycosides containing the steviol glycoside 
rebaudioside M described in the information document below by updating the List of 
Permitted Sweeteners  ( http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/list/9-sweetener-
edulcorant-eng.php ), effective 15 January 2016. 
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 steviol glycosides containing Rebaudioside M. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the 
use of this additive or to submit any inquirie s may do so in writing, by regular mail or 
electronically. G/SPS/N/CAN/990 
 
- 2 - 
 
  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 47th Session of the Codex Committee on Food 
Additives (CCFA) submitted a request to JECFA via the "Priority List of Substances Proposed for Evaluation by JECFA" for a safety assessment and 
revision of specifications for steviol glycosides to (1) include rebaudiosides M 
and E; and (2) delete the requirement that the primary steviol glycosides in stevia preparations be stevioside and/or Reb A. JECFA has issued a call for data so that the request can be considered at the Expert Committee's 82
nd meeting in 
June 2016. 
[ ] 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   [ ] 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 January 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) : 15 January 2016 
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) : 15 January 2016 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 29 March 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 "Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Sweeteners  to Enable the Use of 
Rebaudioside M as a Sweetener in Various Unstandardized Foods - Reference Number: 
NOM/ADM-0065" is available through the following weblink:  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/cons ult/nom-adm-0065/index-eng.php  (English)  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/cons ult/nom-adm-0065/index-fra.php  (French)