G/SPS/N/CAN/1138  
 
4 October 2017  
(17-5337) 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): Carob bean gum and xanthan gum (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 
Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents to Enable the Use of Carob Bean 
Gum and Xanthan Gum in Mincemeat Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0104. Language(s): 
English and French.  Number of pages: 4 
https://me mbers.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/CAN/17_4528_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/CAN/17_4528_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate received a food additive 
submission seeking approval for the use of carob bean gum (locust bean gum) and 
xanthan gum as thickening agents in mincemeat. However, carob bean gum and xanthan 
gum are not among the food additive s currently permitted for use as thickening agents in 
mincemeat. Therefore, the petitioner requested a level of use consistent with Good 
Manufacturing Practice (GMP).  
As no safety concerns were raised through Health Canada's assessment the Department 
has e nabled carob bean gum and xanthan gum for use as thickening agents in mincemeat 
as described in the information document below by updating the  List of Permitted 
Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing, or Thickening Agents , effective  26 September 2017.  
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 these food 
additives.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal healt h, [ ] 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/1138  
 
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  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this pr oposed 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 Partnership s" Website, 
posted 26 September 2017 (available in English and French):  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats.html  (French)   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 26 September 2017  
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) : 26 September 2017  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 9 December 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:   
The " Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or 
Thickening Agents to Enable the Use of Carob Bean Gum and Xanthan Gum in Mincemea t 
Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0104" is available through the following weblink:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/modification -list-permitted -emulsifying -gelling -sabilizing -thickening -carob -
bean-xanthan -gum.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/se rvices/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/modification -liste-emulsifiants -gelifiants -stabilisants -epaississants -gomme -
caroube -xanthane.html  (French)  
or requested from:  
Canada's SPS and TBT Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technica l Barriers and Regulations Division  
Global Affairs Canada  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, Ontario  
K1A 0G2  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca