G/SPS/N/CAN/1097  
 
13 March 2017  
(17-1428) Page: 1/2 
Committee o n 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): Arsenic in apple juice and water in sealed containers 
(ICS Code: 67.160.20)  
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 Update the Maximum 
Levels for Arsenic in Apple Juice and Water in Sealed Containers in the List of 
Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substance s in Foods  - Reference Number: 
NOP/AVP -C-2017-1. Language(s): English and French . Number of pages: 5 and 6  
6. Description of content: Health Canada has conducted a scientific assessment which 
supports the development of a separate and lower maximum level (ML) for total arsenic 
in apple juice. As a result of this assessment, Health Canada is proposing to exclude 
apple juice from the existing ML for arsenic in fruit juice and establish a separate, lower 
ML of 0.015 p.p.m. for total arsenic in apple juice. Th is ML would also apply to apple 
juice when used as an ingredient in other foods and to apple juice concentrate when 
reconstituted to its ready -to-serve form. Furthermore, Health Canada is proposing to 
lower the existing ML for arsenic in water in sealed co ntainers to 0.01 p.p.m. and extend 
the ML to apply to all types of bottled water, including mineral and spring water.  
As a result of this assessment, it is the intention of Health Canada to modify Part 2 of 
the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating S ubstances in Foods  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 
Health Canada's scientific assessment.  
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/1097  
 
- 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 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 1 March 201 7 (available in English and French):  
http://www.hc -sc.gc.ca/fn -an/consult/index -eng.php  
http://www.hc -sc.gc.ca/fn -an/cons ult/index -fra.php  
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 Contaminants and Other 
Adulterating Substances in Foods  (http://hc -sc.gc.ca/fn -an/securit/chem -
chim/adulterating -substances -adulterantes -eng.php ). 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :   
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ]  Six mont hs 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 Contaminants and Other 
Adulterating Substances in Foods  (http://hc -sc.gc.ca/fn -an/securit/chem -
chim/adulterating -substances -adulterantes -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) : 14 May 2017  
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. Text(s)  available from: [ ]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
"Health Canada's Proposal to Update the Maximum Levels for Arsenic in Apple Juice and 
Water in  Sealed Containers in the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating 
Substances in Foods - Reference Number: NOP/AVP -C-2017-1" is available through the 
following weblink:  
http://hc -sc.gc.ca/fn -an/consult/nop -avp-c-2017-1/nop -avp-c-2017-1-eng.php  (English)  
http://hc -sc.gc.ca/fn -an/consult/nop -avp-c-2017-1/nop -avp-c-2017-1-fra.php (French)