WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/CAN/534 
7 June 2011  
 (11-2801) 
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):  Salt and dendritic salt crys tals (ICS Code: 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 
potassium ferrocyanide, trihydrate as an anticak ing agent in salt and as an adjuvant in the 
production of dendritic salt crystals  Language(s):  English and French  Number of 
pages:  2 
6. Description of content:   
Health Canada has received a submission to  permit the use of potassium ferrocyanide, 
trihydrate as an anticaking agent in salt at a total amount not to exceed 13 ppm, if used 
singly or in combination with sodium ferrocy anide, decahydrate, calculated as anhydrous 
sodium ferrocyanide.  The submission also included a request to permit the use of 
potassium ferrocyanide, trihydrate as an ad juvant in the production of dendritic salt 
crystals, at a total amount not to exceed 13 ppm, if used singly or in combination with 
sodium ferrocyanide, decahydrate, calculate d as anhydrous sodium ferrocyanide.  
Evaluation of available data supports the safety and effectiveness of potassium ferrocyanide, trihydrate in these food products. 
Therefore, it is the intention of Health Ca nada to recommend that the Regulations be 
amended to permit the use of potassium ferrocyan ide, trihydrate as an anticaking agent in 
salt at a total amount not to exceed 13 ppm, used singly or in combination with sodium ferrocyanide, decahydrate, calculated as anhydrous  sodium ferrocyanide.  It is also the 
intention of Health Canada to recommend th at the Regulations be amended to permit the 
use of potassium ferrocyanide, trihydrate as an adjuvant in the pro duction of dendritic salt 
crystals at a total amount not to exceed 13 ppm, used singly or in combination with sodium 
ferrocyanide, decahydrate, calculated as anhydrous sodium ferrocyanide. 
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 potassium G/SPS/N/CAN/534 
Page 2  
 
  ferrocyanide, trihydrate, 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 potassium ferrocyanid e, trihydrate as an anticaking agent in salt 
and as an adjuvant in the production of dendr itic salt 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.  
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, 28 May 2011, Pages 1719-1720 (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, 28 May 2011. 
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 fi nal regulation, normally within 12-18 
months of publication of the Notice of Interim Marketing Authorization in the Canada 
Gazette , Part I, 28 May 2011. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  11 August 2011 
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/534 
 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/p1/201 1/2011-05-28/pdf/g1- 14522.pdf#page=41  (Canada 
Gazette ) 
or  
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2011/ 2011-05-28/html/notice-avis-eng.html#d101  
(English) 
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2011/ 2011-05-28/html/notice-avis-fra.html#d101  
(French)