. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CAN/279 
11 January 2007 
 (07-0141) 
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 number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):   Infant formulas  (ICS: 67.230).  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Not 
stated. 
5. Title, language and number of p ages of the notified document:  Interim Marketing 
Authorization regarding the use of ascorbyl palmitate and tocopherols as antioxidants in 
infant formulas and in the oils used as ingred ients in infant formulas (Available in English 
and French; 1 page). 
6. Description of content:  Health Canada has received subm issions to permit the use of 
ascorbyl palmitate and tocopherols as antioxidants in infant formulas and in the oils used as 
ingredients in infant formulas.  The individual maximum level of use for each of these food 
additives is 1 mg/100 mL in formulas ready to c onsume, and at levels consistent with good 
manufacturing practice in the oils used  as ingredients in infant formulas. 
Evaluation of available data supports the saf ety and effectiveness of the use ascorbyl 
palmitate and tocopherols as antioxidants in infant formulas and in the oils used as 
ingredients in infant formulas. 
The use of ascorbyl palmitate and tocopherols  in the applications indicated above will 
benefit both the consumer and industry by pr eventing oxidation of nutrients, improving 
quality of the products and providing longer shelf life of the products. 
Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to recommend that the Food and Drug 
Regulations  be amended to permit the use of a scorbyl palmitate and tocopherols as 
antioxidants in infant formulas and the oils u sed as ingredients in infant formulas, at the 
maximum levels of use specified above. 
As a means to improve the responsiveness of th e regulatory system, an Interim Marketing 
Authorizations (IMA) is being issued to perm it the immediate use of the ascorbyl palmitate 
and tocopherols, as indicated above, while the regulatory process is undertaken to formally 
amend the Regulations.  A revision to this notif ication will be published at the start of the 
amendment process and Members will be given the opportunity at that time to submit comments on this proposed measure. G/SPS/N/CAN/279 
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, 23 December 2006, Page 4333 (ava ilable in English and French). 
10. Proposed date of adoption:  Immediate for this IMA.  For the final regulation, will be stated 
in subsequent Revision or A ddendum to this notification. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  Immediate for this IMA.  For the final regulation, will 
be stated in subsequent Revision or Addendum to this notification.  
12. Final date for comments:  This document is not for comment at this time.  A comment 
period will be provided in a Re vision of this notification. 
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 noti fication 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/2006/20061223/pdf/g1-14051.pdf