. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CAN/287 
9 May 2007 
 (07-1921) 
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:  Department of Health 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):   Veterinary drugs (ICS: 11.220, 67.040, 67.120)  
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:  Proposed Amendment to 
the Food and Drug Regulations (1437 - Maximu m Residue Limits for Veterinary Drugs) 
(available in English and French, 9 pages) 
6. Description of content:  Under the Canadian Food and Drug Regulations  (the 
Regulations), all veterinary drugs must be aut horized by Health Canada prior to their sale 
and administration to prevent and treat diseases in animals. Some drugs are only permitted 
in certain species not intended to be used for foods, while others are used in food producing 
animals.  Amendments to the Regulations are proposed to  promulgate safe limits for 
residues of ten veterinary drugs in foods originating from animals treated with these 
particular drugs.  These veterinary drugs are an  important tool in the production of healthy 
animals which are destined for use as food.  
Acceptable limits of residues of veterinary drugs in food commodities are called maximum 
residue limits (MRLs). MRLs are the maximum concentrations of residues, expressed in parts per million (ppm.) on a fresh weight basi s, in edible tissues of food producing animals 
as a result of the treatment of those animals w ith veterinary drugs.  An MRL is based on the 
type and amount of residue considered to pose no adverse health effects if ingested daily by 
humans over a lifetime.  
Extensive studies have determined that th e food commodities containing the specific 
veterinary drugs at levels up to the MRLs lis ted in the proposed amendments are safe for 
consumption.  These MRLs would apply to f oods produced domestically or imported into 
Canada. 
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   G/SPS/N/CAN/287 
Page 2  
 
  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, 28 April 2007, Pages 1065-1073 (available in English and French) 
10. Proposed date of adoption:  Normally within five to eight months of publication in the 
Canada Gazette, Part I. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  On the date the measure is adopted. 
12. Final date for comments:  12 July  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 notification authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or 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/partI/2007/20070428/pdf/g1-14117.pdf