G/SPS/N/CAN/1007  
 
7 April 2016  
(16-1954)  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): Epichlorohydrin and 2-nitropropane (2-NP) 
(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: Health Canada's Proposal to Remove Epichlorohydrin 
From the List of Permitted Starch-Modifying Agents  and 2-Nitropropane From the List of 
Permitted Carrier or Extraction Solvents   Language(s): English and French  Number of 
pages: 5 
6. Description of content: The Federal Government completed a detailed safety 
assessment of epichlorohydrin and 2-nitropropane (2-NP), which included the current 
uses as food additives. Epichlorohydrin is permitted for use in the manufacture of modified food starch and 2-NP is permitted for use in the fractionation of vegetable oils. 
Since the current scientific information does not support the safety in use of either of 
these two additives, Health Canada intends to remove epichlorohydrin from the List of 
Permitted Starch-Modifying Agents  and 2-NP from the List of Permitted Carrier or 
Extraction Solvents . 
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 the safety of these 
food additives. 
Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific 
information on the safety in use of any food additive, including epichlorohydrin and 
2-nitropropane. 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. If you wish to contact the Food Directorate electronically, please use the 
words "Epichlorohydrin and 2-NP" in the subject line of your e-mail. Health Canada is 
able to consider information received by 14 June 2016, 75 days from the date of this posting. 
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.   G/SPS/N/CAN/1007 
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] 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)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] 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 31 March 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) : The proposed food additive de-listing(s) 
will be legally enabled once removed from Health Canada's Lists of Permitted Food 
Additives  (http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/list/index-eng.php ). 
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) : The food additive modification(s) noted in this document come 
into force the day they are made to the Lists of Permitted Food Additives  (http://hc-
sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/list/index-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 June 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 "Health Canada's Proposal to Remove Epichlorohydrin From the List of Permitted 
Starch-Modifying Agents and 2-Nitropropane From the List of Permitted Carrier or 
Extraction Solvents " is available through the following weblink:  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/nop- adp-0015/document-co nsultation-eng.php  
(English)  
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/nop- adp-0015/document-co nsultation-fra.php  
(French)