G/SPS/N/CAN/1539  
24 November 2023  
(23-7952) 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):  Chitosan  (ICS codes: 67.220.20)  
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:  Health Canada's Proposal to Enable the Use of Chitosan 
from White Button Mushrooms ( Agaricus bisporus ) as a Preservative in Various Foods . 
Language(s):  English and French . Number of pages:  8 and 9  
6. Description of content:  Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed 
premarket safety assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of 
chitosan from white button mushrooms ( Agaricus  bisporus ) as a preservative in various 
foods. The result s of the premarket assessment support the safety and efficacy of chitosan 
from white button mushrooms ( A. bisporus ) for its requested uses as an antibacterial and 
an antifungal agent. Consequently, Health Canada intends to enable the use of chitosan 
from w hite button mushrooms ( A. bisporus ) by modifying Part 2 and Part 3 of the List of 
Permitted Preservatives  as described in the information document referenced below.  
The purpose of this communication is to publicly announce the Department's intention in 
this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for those wishing to submit 
comments, inquiries or 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, [  ] prote ct 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?  G/SPS/N/CAN/1539  
 
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  [ ] 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  on 20 November 2023 (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/participation -public -
partenariats.html  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : The proposed food additive modifications will 
be legally enabled once published in Health Canada's Lists of Permitted Food Additives  
(https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/food -safety/food -
additives/lists -permitted.html ). 
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 modifications noted in this document come into force the 
day they are made to the Lists of Permitted Food Additives  
(https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/food -safety/food -
additives/lists -permitted.html ). 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 2 February 2024  
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:   
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 "Health Canada's Proposal to En able the Use of Chitosan from White Button 
Mushrooms ( Agaricus bisporus ) as a Preservative in Various Foods" is available through 
the following weblink:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/health -canada/services/food -nutrition/public -involvement -
partnerships/proposal -enable -use-chitosan -from-white -button -mushrooms.html  (English)  
https://www.cana da.ca/fr/sante -canada/services/aliments -nutrition/participation -public -
partenariats/proposition -visant -permettre -utilisation -chitosane -issu-champignons -blancs -
bouton -titre-agent -conservation -divers -aliments.html  (French)  
Canada's Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division  
Global Affairs Canada  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0G2  
Canada  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca