G/SPS/N/CAN/989  
 
12 January 2016  
(16-0227)  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): Potassium lactate and Sodium lactate 
(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: Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted 
Preservatives  to Enable the Use of Potassium Lactate and Sodium Lactate as 
Preservatives in Unstandardized and Certain Standardized Marine and Fresh Water 
Animal Products - Document Reference Number: NOM/ADM-0064  Language(s): 
English and French  Number of pages: 4 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/CAN/16_0080_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/CAN/16_0080_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 potassium 
lactate and sodium lactate as antimicrobial preservatives in unstandardized marine and fresh water animal products and certain standardized marine and fresh water animal 
products. 
Potassium lactate and sodium lactate are already permitted for use in Canada as 
preservatives in the List of Permitted Preservatives  (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-
an/securit/addit/list/11-preserv-conserv-eng.php ). 
The results of Health Canada's evaluation of available scientific data support the safety 
and efficacy of potassium lactate and sodium  lactate when used as requested by the 
petitioner. Therefore, Health Canada has modified the List of Permitted Preservatives , 
effective 8 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 potassium lactate and 
sodium lactate. 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. G/SPS/N/CAN/989 
 
- 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 international Codex system has not associated 
either potassium lactate or sodium lact ate with the "preservative" functional 
class, but the Codex General Standard for Food Additives  recognizes the use of 
both additives in certain processed fish and seafood products in accordance with 
Good Manufacturing Practice. 
[ ] 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 8 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) : 8 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) : 8 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) : 22 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 Preservatives  to Enable the Use of 
Potassium Lactate and Sodium Lactate as Preservatives in Unstandardized and Certain 
Standardized Marine and Fresh Water Animal Products - Document Reference Number: NOM/ADM-0064" is available through the following weblink:  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/cons ult/nom-adm-0064/index-eng.php  (English)  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/cons ult/nom-adm-0064/index-fra.php  (French)