G/SPS/N/CHN/934  
 
3 September 2015  
(15-4466)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
1. Notifying Member: CHINA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's 
Republic of China (NHFPC) 
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): Food additive Carrageenan 
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: National Food Safety Standard of the P.R.C.: Food 
Additive Carrageenan  Language(s): Chinese  Number of pages: 8 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/CHN/15_3365_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content: This standard applies to food additive carrageenan obtained 
from Rhodophyceae  by water or alkali extraction. It is a mixture of κ (Kappa), ι (Iota), 
λ (Lambda). It specifies the technical requirements and testing methods. 
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 specification of carrageenan and processed 
eucheuma seaweed described at the 68th JECFA (2007) 
[ ] 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   [X] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
Item This standard JECFA (2007) 
Carrageenan Processed 
 eucheuma seaweed G/SPS/N/CHN/934 
 
- 2 - 
 
  Viscosity ≥ 0.005 Pa ·s  5 cp 
Total ash, % 15 ～40 15 ～40 15 ～30 
Acid-insoluble matter,% ≤15 ≤2 ≤15 
Ersidual solvents, % ≤ 0.1 (isopropanol, 0.1 (ethanol, isopropanol, 
 methanol) methanol) 
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available: None   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 2 November 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: