G/SPS/N/CAN/736  
 
14 October 2013  
(13-5582)  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): Saccharin (ICS Code: 67.220) 
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: Consultation Document on Health Canada's Proposal 
to Enable the Use of Saccharin, Calcium Saccharin, Potassium Saccharin and Sodium Saccharin as Sweeteners in Various Unstandardized Foods  Language(s): English and 
French  Number of pages: 6 
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety 
assessment of a food additive submission seek ing approval for the use of saccharin as a 
sweetener in various unstandardized foods. 
Saccharin and its salts, specifically calcium saccharin, potassium saccharin and sodium 
saccharin are permitted for sale, as saccharin sweeteners, under specific conditions 
prescribed in Part E of the Food and Drug Regulations . These conditions allow 
pharmacies to sell saccharin and its salts as sweeteners that can be used by consumers. Saccharin and its salts are currently not permitted for use as sweeteners in foods sold in 
Canada. 
As no safety concerns were raised through this assessment, it is the intention of Health 
Canada to enable the food additive use of saccharin and its salts, as described in the information document. 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. 
Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific 
information on the safety in use of any food additive, including saccharin. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of this additive or to submit any 
inquiries may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically. 
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/736 
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) The Codex General Standard for Food Additives 
(GSFA) provides for the use of saccharin, calcium saccharin, potassium saccharin 
and sodium saccharin in numerous foods including: canned fruit (maximum level 200 p.p.m. or 0.02%); chewing gum (2500 p.p.m. or 0.25%); various types of 
desserts (100 p.p.m. or 0.01%); fruit toppings (200 p.p.m. or 0.02%); 
aromatized alcoholic beverages (80 p.p.m. or 0.008%); jams, jellies and marmalade (200 p.p.m. or 0.02%); and table-top sweeteners (GMP). 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[ ] Yes   [X] 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 7 October 2013 (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 use will be 
legally enabled once it is published in Health Canada's List of Permitted Sweeteners  
(http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/ list/9-sweetener-edulcorant-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 use noted in this document comes into force 
the day on which the modifications are made to the List of Permitted Sweeteners  
(http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/ list/9-sweetener-edulcorant-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) : 20 December 2013 
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. Texts available from: [ ] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
The electronic version of: "Consultation Document on Health Canada's Proposal to 
Enable the Use of Saccharin, Calcium Saccharin, Potassium Saccharin and Sodium Saccharin as Sweeteners in Various Unstandardized Foods" can be downloaded at:  
http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/2013-nop-adp-saccharin-saccharine/document-
consultation-eng.php  (English) 
http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/2013-nop-adp-saccharin-saccharine/document-
consultation-fra.php  (French)