G/SPS/N/CAN/832  
 
25 June 2014   
(14-3663) 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): Tolerances for arsenic and lead in fruit juice, fruit nectar, 
beverages when ready -to-serve, and water in sealed containers (ICS Code: 67.160)  
4. Regions or countries likely to b e affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: Proposed Changes to the Tolerances for Arsenic and 
Lead in Fruit Juice, Fruit Nectar, Beverages when Read y-to-Serve, and Water in Sealed 
Containers   Language(s): English and French   Number of pages: 5 and 6  
6. Description of content: The Food Directorate's Bureau of Chemical Safety is proposing 
to update certain regulatory tolerances within Division 15 of th e Food and Drugs 
Regulations , specifically those for arsenic and lead in a variety of bever ages, including 
bottled water.  
Currently, Table 1 of Division 15 of the Food and Drug Regulations  specifies tolerances 
of 0.1 parts per million (ppm) of arsenic and 0.2 ppm of lead in fruit juice, fruit nectar, 
beverages when ready -to-serve, and water in sealed containers other than mineral or 
spring water. Should these foods contain arsenic or lead at concentrations above these 
tolerances, they are considered to be a dulterated and there fore may not be sold in 
Canada.  
Fruit juice makes a significant contribution to dietary lead and arsenic exposure, 
particularly in infants and young children. Therefore, this commodity group was 
identified as a priority for setting upda ted lead and arsenic tolerances. Health Canada is 
proposing to exclude apple juice from the existing tolerance for arsenic in fruit juice, 
fruit nectar, and beverages when ready -to-serve and c reate a lower tolerance of 
0.01 ppm for total arsenic in apple j uice. Health Canada is also proposing to lower the 
existing tolerance for lead in fruit juice, fruit nectar, and beverages w hen ready -to-serve 
to 0.05 ppm.  
Furthermore, Health Canada is recommending that the existing tolerances for both 
arsenic and lead in  water in sealed containers be lowered to 0.01 ppm and extended to 
include all types of bottled water, including mineral and spring water, which have a 
standard of identity under Part B, Division 12 of the Food and Drug Regulations . 
7. Objective and ratio nale: [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/C AN/832  
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.   title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) The proposed 0.05 ppm lead tolerance in fruit juice, 
fruit nectar, and beverages when ready -to-serve is consistent with the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission's current  maximum level for lead in fruit juices and 
nectars. The Food Directorate's Bureau of Chemical Safety will consider any 
revisions to existing Codex Maximum Levels (MLs) or new Codex MLs for lead in 
foods for applicability within the Canadian context, and w ill also continue to use 
monitoring data for lead in foods to determine the need for new or lower 
Canadian tolerances, as appropriate. While fruit juice as a general food category 
can make a significant contribution to dietary lead exposure of infants and young 
children, future consideration will be given to the development of separate 
tolerances for different types of juices.  
The proposed tolerances are also in -line with the MLs of 0.01 ppm established by 
the Codex Alimentarius Commission for both arsenic and lead in natural mineral 
waters.  
[ ] 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 Foo d and Nutrition - "Public Involvement and P artnerships" Website, 
posted 19  June 2014 (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) : Early 2015  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :   
11. Proposed date of entry into forc e: [ ]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : Late 2015  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 2 September 2014  
Agency or authority designated to handle 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 address (if available) of other body:  
The document " Proposed Changes to the Tolerances for Arsenic and Lead in Fruit Juice, 
Fruit Nectar, Beverages when Ready -to-Serve, and Water in Sealed Containers " is 
available at:  
http://www.hc -sc.gc.ca/fn -an/consult/2014 -beverages -lead-arsenic -plomb -
boissons/document -consultation -eng.php  (English)  
http://www.hc -sc.gc.ca/fn -an/consult/2014 -beverages -lead-arsenic -plomb -
boissons/document -consultation -fra.php  (French)