G/SPS/N/CAN/1121  
 
8 June 2017  
(17-3042) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  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): Ethylene oxide (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 countr ies:  
5. Title of the notified document: Health Canada's Proposal to Remove Ethylene Oxide 
from the List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Accepted Uses . Language(s): 
English and French . Number of pages: 3 and 4  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/CAN/17_2627_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachmen ts/2017/SPS/CAN/17_2627_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: The Federal Government completed a detailed safety 
assessment of ethylene oxide, which included the current uses as food additives. 
Ethylene Oxide is permitted for use as a fumigant on whole or ground spices. Since the 
current scientific information does not support the safety in use of this additive, Health 
Canada intends to remove ethylene oxide from the List of Permitted Food Additives with 
Other Accepted Uses . 
The purpose of this communicatio n 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.  
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 s tandard:  
[ ] 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 Protectio n Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   G/SPS/N/CAN/1121  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
9. Other relevant doc uments and language(s) in which these are available: 
Health  Canada's Food and Nutrition - "Public Involvement and Partnerships" Website, 
posted 1 June 2017 (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/consult/index -fra.php   
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 ). 
Propo sed 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 Permitte d 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 circulatio n of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 15 August 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 "Health Canada's Proposal to Remove Ethylene Oxide from the List of Permitted 
Food Additives with Othe r Accepted Uses  – Reference Number: NOP/AVP -0025" is 
available through the following weblink:  
http://www.hc -sc.gc.ca/fn -an/consult/nop -avp-0025/nop -avp-0025-eng.php  (English)  
http://www.hc -sc.gc.ca/fn -an/consult/nop -avp-0025/nop -avp-0025-fra.php  (French)