G/SPS/N/CAN/911
2 February 2015 
(15-0701)  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): Mica-based colouring agents (ICS Code: 67.220.20) 
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 Three 
New Colouring Agents: Potassium Aluminium Silicate-Based Iron Oxide; Potassium Aluminium Silicate-Based Titanium Dioxid e; and Potassium Aluminium Silicate-Based 
Titanium Dioxide and Iron Oxide in Certain Unstandardized Foods  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 a food additive submission s eeking approval for the use of mica-based 
iron oxide, mica-based titanium dioxide, an d mica-based titanium dioxide and iron oxide 
as colouring agents in unstandardized confectionery and chewing gum and in 
unstandardized alcoholic beverages. 
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 mica-based colouring agents. 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.   G/SPS/N/CAN/911 
 
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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 number of Codex 
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 
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has published food-
grade specifications for potassium aluminium silicate-based pearlescent pigments, 
Type I (i.e., mica-based titanium dioxide), potassium aluminium silicate-based 
pearlescent pigments, Type II (i.e., mica-bas ed iron oxide), and potassium aluminium 
silicate-based pearlescent pigments Type III (i.e., mica-based titanium dioxide and iron oxide). The muscovite mica-based colouring agents that were evaluated by Health 
Canada meet these food-grade specifications.  
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 26 January 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 Colouring Agents  
(http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/ addit/list/3-colour-color-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 Colouring Agents  
(http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/ addit/list/3-colour-color-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) : 10 April 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  
Health Canada's Proposal to Enable the Use of Three New Colouring Agents. Potassium 
Aluminium Silicate-Based Iron Oxide; Potassium Aluminium Silicate-Based Titanium 
Dioxide; and Potassium Aluminium Silicate-Based Titanium Dioxide and Iron Oxide in 
Certain Unstandardized Foods is available through the following weblink:  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/nop- adm-0011/document-consultation-eng.php  
(English) 
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/nop- adm-0011/document-consultation-fra.php  
(French)