G/SPS/N/CAN/1209  
 
14 September 2018  
(18-5671) Page: 1/3 
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): Calcium carbonate (ICS Codes: 67.220.20)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affecte d, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document: Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Colouring 
Agents  to Enable the Use of Calcium Carbonate in Unstandardized Confectionery - 
Reference Number: NOM/ADM -0124. Language(s): English and French.  Number of 
pages: 3 and 4  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/CAN/18_4871_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/CAN/18_4871_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate received a food additive 
submission seeking approval for the use of calcium carbonate as a colouring agent in the 
manufacture of hard and soft candies and in inks for writing on various confections.  
Calcium carbonate is already permitted as food additive for use in Canada in various 
foods, including unstandardized confectionery, in 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 ), the List of Permitted pH Adjusting Agents, 
Acid-Reacting Materials and Water Correcting Agents  (https://www.canada.ca/en/health -
canada/services/food -nutrition/food -safety/food -additives/lists -permitted/10 -adjusting -
agents.html ), and the  List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Accepted Uses  
(https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/food -safety/food -
additives/lists -permitted/8 -other -accepted -uses.htm l). 
As no safety concerns were raised through Health Canada's assessment, the Department 
has enabled the use of the food additive calcium carbonate, as described in the 
information document below, by updating the  List of Permitted Colouring Agents  
(https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/food -safety/food -
additives/lists -permitted/3 -colouring -agents.html ) effective 6 September  2018.  
The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision 
in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for any inquiries or for 
those wishing to submit any new scien tific information relevant to the safety of this food 
additive.  G/SPS/N/CAN/1209  
 
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  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:  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 
Health  Canada's Food and Nutrition - "Public Involvement and Partnershi ps" Website, 
posted 6 September 2018 (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/par ticipation -public -
partenariats.html  (French)   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 6 September 2018  
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) : 6 September 2018  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 19 November 2018  
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:  G/SPS/N/CAN/1209  
 
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  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 of Modification to the List of Permitted Colouring Agents to Enable the Use of 
Calcium Carbonate in Unstandardized Confectionery - Reference Number: NOM/ADM -
0124" is available through the following weblink:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/pub lic-involvement -
partnerships/modification -permitted -colouring -calcium -carbonte -confectionery.html  
(English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/modification -autorises -colorants -confiseries -cabonate -calcium.html  
(French)  
 
Canada's SPS and TBT Notificatio n Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division  
Global Affairs Canada  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, Ontario  
K1A 0G2  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca