. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CAN/472 
23 September 2010  
 (10-4859) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd 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 numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Sour cream (ICS Code:  67.100, 67.220) 
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:  Interim Marketing Authorization regarding the use of 
xanthan gum as a stabilizing agent in the production of sour cream  Language:  English 
and French  Number of pages:  2   
6. Description of content:  Health Canada has received a submission to permit the use of 
xanthan gum as a stabilizing agent in sour cream at a maximum level of use of 0.5%.  Evaluation of available data supports the saf ety and effectiveness of xanthan gum as a 
stabilizing agent in the production of sour cream at a maximum level of use of 0.5%, if used singly or in any combination with algi n, carob bean gum, carrageenan, gelatin, guar 
gum, pectin or propylene glycol alginate. 
Therefore, it is the intention of Health Ca nada to recommend that the Regulations be 
amended to permit the use of xa nthan gum as a stabilizing agent in the production of sour 
cream at a maximum level of use of 0.5% if used singly or in any combination with algin, carob bean gum, carrageenan, gelatin, guar gum, pectin or propylene glycol alginate. 
As a means to improve the responsiveness of th e regulatory system, an Interim Marketing 
Authorization is being issued to permit the immediate use of xanthan gum as a stabilizing agent in the production of sour cream at a maxi mum level of use of 0.5% if used singly or 
in any combination with algin, carob bean gum, carrageenan, gelatin, guar gum, pectin or propylene glycol alginate while the regul atory process is undertaken to amend the 
Regulations. 
The proposed regulatory amendments would be enabling measures to allow the sale of 
additional foods containing xa nthan gum as a stabilizing agent. The amendments are 
supported by the safety assessment and would ha ve low impact on the economy and on the 
environment.  Consequently, the regulatory amendments may proceed directly to final 
approval and publication in the Canada Gazette , Part II. G/SPS/N/CAN/472 
Page 2  
 
  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 stan dard?  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:  Canada 
Gazette , Part I, 11 September 2010, Pages 2444-2 445 (available in English and French) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  Immediate for this IMA. For the final regulation, 
normally within 12-18 months of publication of the Notice of Interim Marketing Authorization in the Canada Gazette , Part I, 11 September 2010. 
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) :  Immediate for this IMA. For the final regulation, normally within 12-18 
months of publication of the Notice of Inte rim Marketing Authorization in the Canada 
Gazette , Part I, 11 September 2010. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  25 November 2010 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    
13. Texts 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:   
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/ p1/2010/2010-09-11/p df/g1-14437.pdf  (Canada Gazette ) 
or  http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2010/ 2010-09-11/html/notice-avis-eng.html#d108
 
(English) 
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2010/ 2010-09-11/html/notice-avis-fra.html#d108  
(French)