. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CAN/301 
25 September 2007  
 (07-4019) 
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):  A variety of unstandardized and standardized foods (ICS: 67.040) 
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 sodium bisul phate as a pH adjusting agent in a variety of 
unstandardized and standardized foods (ava ilable in English and French, 2 pages) 
6. Description of content:   
Health Canada has received a submission to permit the use of sodium bisulphate as a pH 
adjusting agent in a variety of unstandardized foods including pasta, unstandardized canned 
fruit and vegetables, unstandar dized desserts, toppings a nd fillings, prepared salads, 
unstandardized table syrups, uns tandardized beverages, bevera ge mixes and unstandardized 
beverage concentrates, unstandar dized salad dressings and sauces , and snack bars at levels 
consistent with good manufactur ing practice. The submission al so requested that sodium 
bisulphate be permitted in foods subject to standards set out in Division 7, Division 8 and 
Division 11, specifically, mayonnaise, salad dr essing, processed cheddar cheese, processed 
cream cheese, processed Gouda cheese, processed Jack cheese , processed Monterey cheese, 
processed Mozzarella cheese, processed Muenster cheese, pr ocessed cheese food, cream 
cheese spread, canned corn, canned green bean s, canned peas, canned carrots, canned sweet 
potatoes, canned yams, canned tomatoes, canned  mushrooms, canned olives, canned pickles 
and relish, canned peaches, can ned pears, pineapple, and ca nned applesauce at levels 
consistent with good manufacturing practice.  Evaluation of availa ble data supports the safety 
and effectiveness of sodium bisulphate as a pH adjusting agent in these food products.  
The use of sodium bisulphate will benefi t both consumers and industry by reducing the 
requirement for salt in food processing with an ove rall reduction in the levels of sodium in the 
final food.  
Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to recommend that the Food and Drug 
Regulations be amended to permit the use of sodium bisulphate as a pH adjusting agent in 
unstandardized foods and the foods subject to standards as indicate d above at leve ls consistent 
with good manufacturing practice.  G/SPS/N/CAN/301 
Page 2  
 
  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 sodium bisulphate in the 
standardized and unstandardize d foods listed above at levels consistent with good 
manufacturing practice, while the regulatory process is undert aken to formally amend the 
Regulations.  
The proposed regulatory amendments would be enabling measures to allow the sale of 
additional foods containing sodium bisulphate 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 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. 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 2718-2719  (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.ca/ 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)