WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/CAN/603 
25 May 2012  
 (12-2759) 
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 numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Marine and fresh water animal products (excluding fresh fish) (ICS Codes:  
67.120, 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 
Citric acid and Sodium citrate as pH adjusti ng agents and as sequestering agents in all 
standardized and unstandardized marine and fresh water animal products (excluding fresh 
fish)   Language(s):  English and French  Number of pages:  2 
6. Description of content:  Health Canada has received a submission to permit the use of 
Citric acid and Sodium citrate as pH adjusti ng agents and as sequestering agents in all 
standardized and unstandardized marine and fresh water animal products (excluding fresh 
fish) at levels of use consistent with good ma nufacturing practice.  Evaluation of available 
data supports the safety and effectiveness of C itric acid and Sodium citrate as pH adjusting 
agents and as sequestering agents in  the production of these food products.  
The use of Citric acid and Sodium citrate will benefit consumers by maintaining the 
flavour, texture and colour of food products, and by contributing to better cooking results.  
It will also benefit industry through more efficient and improved manufacturing conditions. 
Therefore, it is the intention of Health Ca nada to recommend that the Regulations be 
amended to permit the use of Citric acid and S odium citrate as pH adjusting agents and as 
sequestering agents in the production of glaze fo r frozen fish, frozen fish fillets, frozen fish, 
and frozen minced fish as set out in section B.21. 003, at levels of use consistent with good 
manufacturing practice.  It is also the intention of Health Canada to permit the use of Citric 
acid and Sodium citrate as pH adjusting agents  and as sequestering agents in the production 
of frozen crustaceans, frozen molluscs, other fro zen marine invertebrates, frozen marine 
mammals, frozen lobster, frozen crab, frozen shrimp and frozen clams as set out in section 
B.21.004; prepared fish and prepared meat  as set out in section B.21.006; and preserved 
fish and preserved meat as set out in section B.21. 021, all at levels of use consistent with 
good manufacturing practice.  G/SPS/N/CAN/603 
Page 2  
 
  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 Citric acid and Sodium 
citrate, as indicated above, while the re gulatory process is undertaken to amend the 
Regulations.  
The proposed regulatory amendments would be enabling measures to allow the sale of 
additional foods containing Citric  acid and Sodium citrate used as pH adjusting agents or as 
sequestering agents.  The amendments are supported by the safety assessment and would 
have low impact on the economy and on the e nvironment.  Consequently, the regulatory 
amendments may 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, 12 May 2012, Pages 1309-1310 (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, 12 May 2012. 
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, 12 May 2012. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  26 July 2012 
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/603 
 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://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-05-12/pdf/g1-14619.pdf#page=9  (Canada 
Gazette ) 
or  
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/ rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-05-12/html/notice-avis-eng.html#d107  
(English) 
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/ rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-05-12/html/notice-avis-fra.html#d107  
(French)