G/SPS/N/CHL/528  
31 August 2016  
(16-4616) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member : CHILE 
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible : Ministerio de Salud, Departamento Nutrición y Alimentos (Ministry 
of Health, Food and Nutrition Department)  
3. Products covered (provide tar iff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO ; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable) : Foods 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  
[X] All trading partne rs 
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document : Propuesta de modificación parcial del Artículo 160 del 
Reglamento Sanitario de los Alimentos, Decreto Supremo N° 977/96 del Ministerio de 
Salud  (Draft partial amendment to Article 1 60 of the Food Health Regulations, Supreme 
Decree No. 977/96 of the Ministry of Health) Language(s) : Spanish Number of pages : 2 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS /CHL/16_3563_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content : The draft amendment relates to the maximum levels of mercury 
permitted in the following foods.  
ARTICLE 160 . The mercury content of the following foods must not exceed the maximum 
levels indicated below:  
1. Non-predatory fish, including fresh and processed fish (e.g. frozen, smoked, canned, 
breaded) : 0.5 mg/kg final product  
Notes:  
Excludes marine -derived oils;  
Limit for methylmercury;  
It is only necessary to determine the level of methylmercury if the total mer cury 
concentration exceeds this limit.  
2. Non-predatory fish, including fresh and processed fish (e.g. frozen, smoked, canned, 
breaded) : 1 mg/kg final product  
Covers inter alia : shark ( Hexanchus griseus , Deania calcea , Isurus oxyrinchus , Lamna 
nasus , etc.), s wordfish ( Xiphias gladius ), tuna ( Thunnus albacares , Thunnus alalunga , 
Gatrochisma melampus,  Katsuwonus pelamis , Thunnus obesus , etc.), Patagonian toothfish 
(Dissostichus eleginoides ). 
Notes:  
Excludes marine -derived oils;  
Limit for methylmercury;  
It is onl y necessary to determine the level of methylmercury if the total mercury 
concentration exceeds this limit.  
3. Shellfish, including fresh and processed shellfish (e.g. frozen, smoked, canned, 
breaded) : 0.5 mg/kg final product  G/SPS/N/CHL/528  
- 2 - 
  Note: Excludes marine -derived oils . 
4. Edible salt : 0.1 mg/kg final product  
Note: See Paragraph II of Title XXIII.  
5. Mineral waters and packaged drinking waters : 0.001 mg/kg final product  
Note: Expressed in mg/l.  
6. Dietary supplements, fortified foods, foods for athletes, foods for special diets and 
foods claiming to provide nutritional or health benefits which contain marine -derived 
DHA and EPA : 0.10 mg/kg final product  
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:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission ( e.g. title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text ) Codex Sta ndard  STAN 193, adopted in 1995,  amended 
in 2015.  
[ ] World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. T errestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention ( e.g. I SPM No. ) 
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulatio n conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] 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:  
10. Proposed date of  adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Upon publication in the Official Journal.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 40 days from the date of circulation of the 
notification.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force : [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or 
(dd/m m/yy) : Upon publication in the Official Journal.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments : [ ]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 30 days from the date of circulation of the 
notification.  
Agen cy or authority designated to handle comments : [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point . Address, fax number and email address (if 
available) of other body:  
Email : sps.chile@sag.gob.cl  
13. Text(s) available from : [X] National Notifi cation Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point . Address, fax number and email address (if available) of other body:  
Email : sps.chile@sag.gob.cl