. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CAN/299 
25 September 2007  
 (07-4017) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English/ 
 French 
 
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  CANADA   
If applicable, name of local government involved:     
2. Agency responsible:  Health Canada 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numb er(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Bakery fillings, flavour emulsion s and icings (ICS: 67.060, 67.180)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable :  Not 
stated. 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Interim Marketing 
Authorization regarding the use of hydrochloric  acid as a pH adjusting agent in bakery 
fillings, flavour emulsions and icings  (available in English and French,  2 pages) 
6. Description of content:   
Health Canada has received a submission to permit the use of hydrochloric acid as a pH 
adjusting agent in bakery fillings, flavour emulsi ons and icings at levels consistent with good 
manufacturing practice. Evaluati on of available data supports th e safety and effectiveness of 
hydrochloric acid as a pH adjus ting agent in these food products.  
The use of hydrochloric acid will benefit co nsumers through the increased availability of 
quality bakery products. It will also benefit indu stry by facilitating th e manufacture of these 
products.  
Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to recommend that the Food and Drug 
Regulations be amended to permit the use of hydrochloric acid as a pH adjusting agent in the 
foods mentioned above at levels consis tent with good manufacturing practice.  
As a means to improve the responsiveness of the regulatory system, an Interim Marketing 
Authorization (IMA) is being issued to permit  the immediate use of hydrochloric acid in 
bakery fillings, flavour emulsions and icings, at  levels consistent with good manufacturing 
practice, while the regulatory process is undertaken to form ally amend the Regulations.  
The proposed regulatory amendments would be enabling measures to allow the sale of 
additional foods containing hydrochloric acid as a pH adjusting agent. The amendments are supported by the safety assessment and woul d have low impact on the economy and the 
environment. Consequently, the regulatory am endments may proceed directly to final 
approval and publication in the Canada Gazette , Part II. G/SPS/N/CAN/299 
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. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ X ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:    
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   Canada Gazette, 
Part I, 15 September 2007, Pages 2716-2717 (available in English and French) 
10. Proposed date of adoption:  Immediate for this IMA.  Fo r the final regulation, normally 
within 12-18 months of publication of the Noti ce of Interim Marketing Authorization in the 
Canada Gazette , Part I, 15 September 2007. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  Immediate for this IMA.  For the final regulation, 
normally within 12-18 months of publicati on of the Notice of Interim Marketing 
Authorization in the Canada Gazette , Part I, 15 September 2007. 
12. Final date for comments:  29 November 2007 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or  address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body: 
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notifica tion authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: 
The electronic version of the regulator y text can be downloaded at:   
http://canadagazette.gc.c a/partI/2007/20070915/pdf/g1-14137.pdf   
or  http://canadagazette.gc.ca/part I/2007/20070915/html/no tice-e.html#i2
 (English) 
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/pa rtI/2007/20070915/html/notice-f.html  (French)