1.

Notifying Member: 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): Glucoamylase obtained from Aspergillus niger 126-PE001-32 (ICS Codes: 67.220, 67.060, 67.230)

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: Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Food Enzymes to Enable the Use of Glucoamylase Obtained from Aspergillus niger 126-PE001-32 as a Food Enzyme in Bread, Flour, Whole Wheat Flour, Unstandardized Bakery Products, Breakfast Cereals, and Infant Cereal Products   Language(s): English and French  Number of pages: 4 and 4

http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/CAN/15_3272_00_e.pdf

http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/CAN/15_3272_00_f.pdf

6.

Description of content: Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of the enzyme glucoamylase obtained from Aspergillus niger 126-PE001-32 in bread, flour, whole wheat flour, unstandardized bakery products, breakfast cereals, and infant cereal products.

Glucoamylase from various sources is already permitted for use in Canada as a food enzyme in bread, flour, whole wheat flour, unstandardized bakery products, pre-cooked (instant) breakfast cereal (a sub-group of breakfast cereals) and infant cereal products. However, Aspergillus niger 126-PE001-32 is not an approved source organism for any enzyme on the List of Permitted Food Enzymes (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/list/5-enzymes-eng.php).

The results of Health Canada's evaluation of available scientific data support the safety of glucoamylase obtained from Aspergillus niger 126-PE001-32 when used as requested by the petitioner. Therefore, Health Canada has modified the List of Permitted Food Enzymes, effective 13 August 2015.

The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for any inquiries or for those wishing to submit any new scientific information relevant to the safety of this food additive.

Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific information on the safety in use of any food additive, including glucoamylase obtained from A. niger 126-PE001-32. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of this food additive or to submit any inquiries may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically.

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:

[ ]        Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text)  

[ ]        World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number)  

[ ]        International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)  

[X]      None

Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard? 

[ ] 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 13 August 2015 (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): 13 August 2015

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): 13 August 2015

[ ]      Trade facilitating measure  

12.

Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 27 October 2015

Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e?mail address (if available) of other body:  

13.

Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e?mail address (if available) of other body:

The "Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Food Enzymes to Enable the Use of Glucoamylase Obtained from Aspergillus niger 126-PE001-32 as a Food Enzyme in Bread, Flour, Whole Wheat Flour, Unstandardized Bakery Products, Breakfast Cereals, and Infant Cereal Products" is available through the following weblink:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/nom-adm-0056/index-eng.php (English)

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/consult/nom-adm-0056/index-fra.php (French)