. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/CAN/584 
26 January 2012  
 (12-0509) 
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):  Canned mandarin oranges (ICS Codes:  67.080, 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 
sodium carboxymethyl cellulose to prevent the formation of hesperidin crystals in canned 
mandarin oranges  Language(s):  English and French  Number of pages:  2 
6. Description of content:  Health Canada has received a submission to permit the use of 
sodium carboxymethyl cellulose to prevent the formation of hesperidin crystals in canned 
mandarin oranges at a maximum level of use of 0.005 per cent.  Evaluation of available 
data supports the safety and effectiveness of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in the production of these food products. 
Therefore, it is the intention of Health Ca nada to recommend that the Regulations be 
amended to permit the use of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose to prevent the formation of 
hesperidin crystals in canned mandarin orang es at levels of use consistent with good 
manufacturing practice. 
As a means to improve the responsiveness of th e regulatory system, an Interim Marketing 
Authorization (IMA) is being issued to perm it the immediate use of sodium carboxymethyl 
cellulose, as indicated above, while the regulatory process is undertaken to amend the 
Regulations. 
The proposed regulatory amendments would be enabling measures to allow the sale of 
additional foods containing sodium carboxymet hyl cellulose to prevent the formation of 
hesperidin crystals.  The amendments are supported by the safety assessment and would have a 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/584 
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, 14 January 2012, Pages 26-27 (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 th e Notice of Interim Marketing 
Authorization in the Canada Gazette , Part I, 14 January 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, 14 January 2012. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  29 March 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:    
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/p1/201 2/2012-01-14/pdf/g1- 14602.pdf#page=6  (Canada 
Gazette ) 
or  http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/ 2012-01-14/html/notice-avis-eng.html#d106  
(English) 
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/ 2012-01-14/html/notice-avis-fra.html#d106  
(French)