. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.99/609
10 December 1999
(99-5404)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   CANADA
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Department of Health
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:   National Enquiry Point
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Canadian Whisky
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Proposed Amendment
to the Food and Drug Regulations (997 – Cana dian Whisky) (pages 3557-3559;  English and
French)
6. Description of content:   Compositional standards established for foods and beverages sold
in Canada provide assurance to Canadian consumers that these products have been
produced to a minimum standard set and enforced  by the Canadian government.  Division 2
of the Food and Drug Regulations includes compositional standards for a number of
distilled alcoholic beverages but does not specify a minimum alcohol content for most ofthese products.  Nevertheless, the standards for Scotch Whisky, Bourbon Whisky,
Tennessee Whisky and Tequila reference the standards of identity for these products in the
country of origin.  As a result of this referencing mechanism, a minimum alcohol content of
40 per cent alcohol by volume is required for Scotch, Bourbon, Tennessee Whisky and
Tequila.
In addition, Division 2 of the Regulations currently provides a standard which describes the
method of production and aging requirements necessary to manufacture Canadian Whisky.
This standard includes a requirement that Canadian Whisky be aged for only three years in
Canada to obtain the appellation.  Additional aging may be undertaken outside of Canada.
As a result of a submission received, Health Canada is considering an amendment to
Section B.02.020 of the Food and Drug Regulations to modify the compositional standard
for Canadian Whisky, Canadian Rye Whisky or Rye Whisky.  The proposed amendment
would add to the current standard requirements a minimum alcohol content of 40 per cent
by volume and that all aging of this product be conducted in Canada.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
HarmonizationG/TBT/Notif.99/609
Page 2
8. Relevant documents:   Canada Gazette, Part I, 4 December 1999
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: }Not stated
10. Final date for comments:   3 January 2000
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:           