WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CAN/482 
1 November 2010  
 (10-5780) 
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):  Hard candies and chewing gum, unstanda rdized baked products and baking 
mixes, cakes and cookies, fruit spreads, alcoholic  beverages, dairy-based beverages, yogurt, 
frozen desserts, puddings, syrups and toppings,  fruit, cream and custard fillings, and fruit-
based smoothie beverages (ICS Codes:  67. 060, 67.080, 67.100, 67 .160, 67.180, 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 
erythritol in hard candies and chewing gum, and as a sweetener to the following 
unstandardized foods: baked pr oducts and baking mixes, cakes and cookies, fruit spreads, 
alcoholic beverages, dairy-based beverages, yogurt, frozen desserts, puddings, syrups and 
toppings,  fruit, cream and custard fillings, and fruit-based smoothie beverages Language:  English and French  Number of pages:  2   
6. Description of content:  Health Canada has received a submission to increase the 
maximum levels of use of erythritol in ha rd candies and chewing gum to 99% and 75% 
respectively.  This submission would also exte nd the use of erythritol as a sweetener to the 
following unstandardized foods at the indicated  maximum level of use: baked products and 
baking mixes (10%), cakes and cookies (10%),  fruit spreads (14%), alcoholic beverages 
(3.5%), dairy-based beverages (2.5%), yogurt (7%), frozen desserts (5%), puddings (10%), 
syrups and toppings (15%), fruit, cream a nd custard fillings (10%), and fruit-based 
smoothie beverages (7%). Evaluation of availa ble data supports the safety and effectiveness 
of erythritol, as a sweetener, in the produc tion of these food products at the indicated 
maximum levels of use. 
Therefore, it is the intention of Health Ca nada to recommend that the Regulations be 
amended to permit the use of erythritol as a sw eetener in the foods mentioned above at the 
indicated maximum level of use. 
As a means to improve the responsiveness of th e regulatory system, an Interim Marketing 
Authorization (IMA) is being issued to permit the immediate use of erythritol, as indicated 
above, while the regulatory process is undertaken to amend the Regulations. G/SPS/N/CAN/482 
Page 2  
 
  The proposed regulatory amendments would be enabling measures to allow the sale of 
additional foods containing erythritol as a sweetener.  The ame ndments are supported by 
the safety assessment and would have low impact on the economy and on the environment. Consequently, the regulatory amendments ma y proceed directly to final approval and 
publication in the Canada Gazette , Part II. 
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, 16 October 2010, Pages 2663-266 4 (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, 16 October 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 Interim Marketing Authorization in the Canada 
Gazette , Part I, 16 October 2010. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  30 December 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:     G/SPS/N/CAN/482 
 Page 3 
 
 
  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/ p1/2010/2010-10-16/p df/g1-14442.pdf  (Canada Gazette ) 
or  
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2010/ 2010-10-16/html/notice-avis-eng.html#d103  
(English) http://canadagazette.gc.ca/ rp-pr/p1/2010/2010-10-16/html/notice-avis-fra.html#d103
 
(French)