G/SPS/N/CAN/637
Page 3
30 October 2012
(12-5918)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures / Original: English/French
NOTIFICATION
1. / Notifying Member: CanadaIf 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): Dimethyl dicarbonate in wine and unstandardized water-based non-alcoholic beverages (ICS Codes: 67.160, 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: Information and Notification Document on Health Canada's Proposal to enable the use of Dimethyl Dicarbonate as a Preservative in Wine and in Unstandardized Water-Based Non-Alcoholic Beverages Language(s): English and French Number of pages: 3 and 4
6. / Description of content: This document provides information on Health Canada's proposal to enable the use of dimethyl dicarbonate as a preservative in wine and in unstandardized water-based non-alcoholic beverages.
Health Canada received a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC) as a preservative at a maximum level of use of 250 parts per million (ppm) in various unstandardized water-based non-alcoholic beverages and at a maximum level of use of 200 ppm in wine. Unstandardized water-based non-alcoholic beverages includes such products as ready-to-drink teas, fruit-flavoured sport drinks, energy drinks, and carbonated flavoured soft drinks.
The results of Health Canada's evaluation of the available scientific data support the safety and efficacy of DMDC when used as requested. Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to amend Part 3 of the List of Permitted Preservatives to allow dimethyl dicarbonate to be legally enabled for use as described in the notification document.
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 standard? If so, identify the standard:
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text) The proposed use of DMDC is consistent with the international Codex General Standard for Food Additives (CODEX STAN 192-1995), which includes entries for the use of DMDC in "water-based flavoured drinks", including "sport," "energy", or "electrolyte" drinks and "particulated drinks" to a maximum of 250 mg/kg; and in "grape wines" to a maximum level of 200 mg/kg.
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number)
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.ISPM number)
[ ] None
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?
[X] 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: Health Canada's Food and Nutrition - "Public Involvement and Partnerships' Website, posted 25October 2012 (available in English and French):
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/index-eng.php (English)
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/index-fra.php (French)
10. / Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): Normally within four to five months from the posting of the Information Document on the Health Canada website.
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): The proposed food additive use will be legally enabled once it is published in Health Canada's List of Permitted Food Additives.
[ ] Trade facilitating measure
12. / Final date for comments: [ ]Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 23 December 2012
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ]National Notification Authority, [X]National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and email address (if available) of other body:
13. / Texts available from: [ ]National Notification Authority, [X]National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and email address (if available) of other body:
The electronic version of: "Information and Notification Document on Health Canada's Proposal to Enable the Use of Dimethyl Dicarbonate as a Preservative in Wine and in Unstandardized Water-Based Non-Alcoholic Beverages" can be downloaded at:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/dimethy/document-consultation-eng.php (English)
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/dimethy/document-consultation-fra.php (French)