G/SPS/N/CAN/1130  
 
17 August 2017  
(17-4410) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanit ary 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 w ith the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Total glycoalkaloids (TGA) in potato tubers 
(ICS Code:  67.080)  
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 Health Canada's Proposal to Transfer the 
Maximum Level for total glycoalkaloids (TGA) in potato tubers (fresh weight) from the 
List of Maximum Levels for Various Chemical Contami nants in Foods to the regulatory 
List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods - Reference Number: 
NOP/ADP -C-2017-5. Language(s): English and French . Number of pages: 5 
6. Description of content: The List of Maximum Levels for Various Ch emical 
Contaminants in Foods currently specifies a maximum level (ML) of 200 parts per million 
(p.p.m.) total glycoalkaloids in potato tubers (fresh weight), with total glycoalkaloids 
specified as being the sum of alpha -solanine and alpha -chaconine. If pot atoes contain 
TGA at a concentration above 200 p.p.m., they would be considered in violation of 
section 4(1) of the Food and Drugs Act . 
The existing ML for TGA in potato tubers was re viewe d by Health Canada in 2014. 
The Department has confirmed that this ML continues to be health protective and is 
achievable when good agricultural, manufacturing and storage practices are followed.  
Health Canada is proposing to transfer the existing ML for TGA in potato tubers from the 
List of Maximum Levels for Various Chemical Contaminants in Foods to the regulatory 
List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods, thereby removing this 
ML from the first list. It is the intention of Heal th Canada to modify Part 2 of the List of 
Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Food by adding a new entry for TGA 
(column 1), potato tubers (column 2) and 200 p.p.m. (column 3).  
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/1130  
 
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  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) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this propo sed 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 Partner ships" Website, 
posted 4 August 2017 (available in English and French):  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships.html  
https://www.canad a.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats.html  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : The proposed ML will be legally enabled 
once it is published in Health Canada's  List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating 
Substances in Foods  
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 ML noted in this document comes into force the day on 
which the modification is made to the  List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating 
Substances in Foods . 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notificati on and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 17 October 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 Transfer the Maximum Level for total glycoalkaloids (TGA) 
in potato tubers (fresh weight) to the  regulatory List of Contaminants and Other 
Adulterating Substances in Foods is available through the following weblinks:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/programs/consultation -proposal -update -
maximum -levels -glycoalkaloids -potato -tubers.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/programmes/consultation -proposition -visant -
mettre -jour-concentrations -maximal -glycoalcaloides -tubercules -pomme -de-terre.html  
(French)