G/SPS/N/CAN/1131  
 
17 August 2017  
(17-4413) 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 w ith the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Polysorbate 60 (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: Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted 
Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents to Enable the Use of Polysorbate 
60 as an Emulsifier in Canned Coconut Milk – Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0101.  
Language(s): English and French . Number of pages: 3 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/CAN/17_3680_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/CAN/17_3680_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety 
assessment of a food additive submission see king approval for the use of polysorbate 60 
(polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate) as an emulsifier in canned coconut milk.   
Polysorbate 60 is already permitted for use in Canada as an emulsifier in assorted 
unstandardized foods.  
As no safety concern s were raised through Health Canada's assessment the Department 
has enabled the food additive use of polysorbate 60 described in the  
information document below by updating the List of Permitted Emulsifying,  
Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents  (https://www.canada.ca/en/health -
canada/services/food -nutrition/food -safety/food -additives/lists -permitted/4 -emulsifying -
gelling -stabilizing -thickening -agents.html ), effective 14 August 2017.  
The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision 
in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact inform ation 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) :  G/SPS/N/CAN/1131  
 
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  [ ] Worl d 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 standa rd?   
[ ] 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 Par tnerships" Website, posted 
14 August  2017 (available in English and French):  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships.html   
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/particip ation-public -
partenariats.html   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 14 August 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) : 14 August 2017  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 27 October 2017  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National En quiry 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:   
"Notice o f Modification to the List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or 
Thickening Agents to Enable the Use of Polysorbate 60 as an Emulsifier in Canned 
Coconut Milk – Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0101" 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 -
polysorbate60.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/modification -liste-emulsifiants -gelifiants -stabilisan ts-epaississants -
polysorbate60.html  (French)