G/SPS/N/CAN/1242  
 
8 March 2019  
(19-1438) 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): Potassium pyrophosphate, tetrabasic (ICS Code: 67.220.20)  
4. Regions or countries lik ely 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 Modification to the List of Permitted 
Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents , the List of Permitted pH Adjusting 
Agents, Acid -Reacting Materials and Water Correcting Agents , and the List of Permitted 
Sequestering Agents  to Enable the Use of Potassium Pyrophosphate, Tetrabasic in 
Unstandardized Foods - Reference Number: NOM/A DM-0128. Language(s): English and 
French.  Number of pages: 5 and 6  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/SPS/CAN/19_1386_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/SPS/CAN/19_1386_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety 
assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of potassium 
pyrophosphate, tetrabasic in unstandardized foods.  
Potassium pyrophosphate, tetrabasic is already permitted for use as a food additive in 
various foods as specified in the List  of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or 
Thickening Agents , the List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Accepted Uses , and 
the List of Permitted Sequestering Agents . 
As no safety concerns were raised through Health Canada's assessment, the De partment 
has enabled the use of this food additive as described in the information document below 
by modifying the List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents , 
the List of Permitted pH Adjusting Agents, Acid -Reacting Materials and Water Correcting 
Agents , and the List of Permitted Sequestering Agents , effective 5 March 2019.  
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 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 di sease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  G/SPS/N/CAN/1242  
 
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  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 Partnerships" Website, 
posted 5 March 2019 (available in English and French):  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/fo od-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) : 5 March 2019  
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) : 5 March 2019  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 18 May 2019  
Agency or authority designate d 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 electronic version of the regulatory text can be downloaded at:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/modification -permitted -food-additives -potassium -pyrophosphate -
tetrabasic.html  (English)  
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante -canada/ services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/modification -additifs -alimentaires -autorises -pyrophosphate -
tetrapotassique.html  (French)  
 
Canada's SPS and TBT Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Divisio n 
Global Affairs Canada  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, Ontario  
K1A 0G2  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca