G/SPS/N/CAN/1175  
 
14 June 2018  
(18-3704)  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; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable): Stearic Acid (ICS Codes: 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: Notice of Modification to the  List of Permitted Food 
Additives with Other Accepted Uses to Enable the Use of Stearic Acid as an Antifoaming 
Agent in Pre -Cooked (Instant) Breakfast Cereals - Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0117. 
Language(s): English and French.  Number of pages: 3 and 4  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/CAN/18_3056_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/CAN/18_3056_01_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 stearic acid as an 
antifo aming agent in pre -cooked (instant) breakfast cereals.  
Stearic acid is already permitted for use in Canada as a release agent in unstandardized 
confectionery, a plasticizing agent in chewing gum, and a release agent and lubricant in 
foods sold in tablet fo rm.  
As no safety concerns were raised through Health Canada's assessment, the Department 
has enabled the use of the food additive stearic acid described in the information 
document below by updating the List of Permitted Food Additives with Other  Accepted  
Uses, effective 1  June 2018.  
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.  
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 standard? 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) :  G/SPS/N/CAN/1175  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it d eviates 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 1  June 2018:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats.html  (French)  (available in English and Fre nch) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 1 June 2018  
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) : 1 June 2018  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final  date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 14 August 2018  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number an d e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification 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 Food Additives with Other Accepted 
Uses to Enable the Use of Stearic Acid as an Antifoaming Agent in Pre -Cooked (Instant) 
Breakfast Cereals - Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0117" is available through the foll owing 
weblink: https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutriti on/public -
involvement -partnerships/modification -permitted -food-additives -stearic -acid-1.html  
(English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/modification -autorises -additifs -alimentaires -acide-syearique -1.html  (French)  
or requested from:  
Canada's SPS & TB T Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Global Affairs Canada  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G2  
Canada  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca