. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CAN/100
3 April 2001
(01-1659)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English/
French
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  CANADA
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Health
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  L-cysteine
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Proposed Amendment to the Food
and Drug Regulations (1118 – L-Cysteine) (pages 1018-1020)
5. Description of content:  Provision currently exists in the Food and Drug Regulations for
the use of another form of L-cysteine, namely L-cysteine hydrochloride, as a bleaching,
maturing and dough conditioning agent in a variety of bakery products and in sulphite
replacement formulations to prevent the browning of prepared fruits and vegetables.  HealthCanada has received a submission to permit the use of L-cysteine in fruit flavoured
nutritional supplements as an antioxidant to inhibit the oxidation of ascorbic acid and the
polyunsaturated fatty acids in these products.
Evaluation of available data supports the effectiveness and safety of use of L-cysteine to
extend shelf life of nutritional supplements.  There is no safety concern with the proposed
use because L-cysteine is a common component of protein and is already part of the
consumers’ daily diet.
This proposed amendment to the Food and Drug Regulations would permit the optional
addition of L-cysteine in fruit flavoured nutri tional supplements at a maximum level of use
consistent with "good manufacturing practice".
6. 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           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Canada Gazette,
Part I, 24 March 2001 (Available in English and French)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Not stated.G/SPS/N/CAN/100
Page 2
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  Not stated.
11. Final date for comments:  23 April 2001
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:           
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  The electronic
version of the Canada Gazette Part I can be downloaded at:
http://canada.gc.ca/gazette/part1/pdf/g1-13512.pdf