G/SPS/N/CAN/1296  
 
20 January 2020  
(20-0508) 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):  Spirulina Extract (ICS Codes: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 Health Canada's proposal to enable the use 
of Spirulina extract as a colouring agent in various foods  - Reference Number: 
NOP/ADP -0034. Language(s):  English and French . Number of pages:  4 
6. Description of content:  Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed 
premarket safety assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use 
of Spirulina extract as a food colouring agent in various foods. The results of the 
premarket assessment support t he safety of Spirulina extract for its use as a colouring 
agent in a variety of foods. Consequently, Health Canada intends to enable the use of 
Spirulina extract by modifying the List of Permitted Colouring Agents  as described in the 
information document referenced below.  
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 this food 
additive.  
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) :  
[ ] 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:   G/SPS/N/CAN/1296  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Health 
Canada's Food and Nutrition – "Public Involvement and Partnerships " Website, posted 
9 January 2020 (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) : The proposed food additive modification(s)  
will be legally enabled once published in Health Canada's Lists of Permitted Food 
Additives : ( https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/food -
safety/food -additives/lists -permitted.html ). 
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) n oted in this document come 
into force the day they are made to the Lists of Permitted Food Additives : 
(https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/food -safety/food -
additives/lists -permitted.html ). 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 23 March 2020  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if avai lable) 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 Health Canada's proposal to enable the use of Spirulina extract as a 
colouring agent in various foods  - Reference Number: NOP/ADP -0034" is available 
through the following weblink: https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -
nutrition/public -involvement -partnerships/notice -proposal -use-spirulina -extract -
colouring -agent/document.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/partic ipation -public -
partenariats/avis -proposition -utilisation -extrait -spiruline -colorant/document.html  
(French)  
 
Canada's Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division  
Global Affairs Canada, 111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0G2, Canada  
Tel: +(343) 2034 273  
Fax: +(613) 9430 346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca