WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/CAN/35
15December 1997
ORGANIZATION
(97-5487)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member toAgreement notifying: CANADA
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Department ofHealth
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with
theWTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable):
4-hexylresorcinol
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document: Proposed Amendment totheFood
andDrug Regulations (1078) (pages 3709-3711)
5. Description ofcontent: Asubmission hasbeenreceived bytheDepartment ofHealth
fortheuseof4-hexylresorcinol asasubstitute forsulphites toinhibit theformation of
black spot(melanosis) onfresh andfrozen crustaceans.
Provision currently exists intheFood andDrug Regulations foruseofsulphiting
agents asmelanosis inhibitors incrustaceans. Atpresent, there isnoprovision inthe
Regulations fortheuseof4-hexylresorcinol incrustaceans oranyother food.
However, thisproposed useispermitted inseveral countries, including theUnited
States andAustralia.
Thisuseof4-hexylresorcinol wasevaluated from thestandpoint ofsafety andefficacy,
inaccordance withsection B.16.002 oftheFood andDrug Regulations. Itwas
concluded thatthisproposed usewould notposeeither health orfraud riskto
consumers.
Thisproposed amendment willprovide fortheuseof4-hexylresorcinol asamelanosis
inhibitor infresh andfrozen crustaceans atlevels consistent with“good manufacturing
practice ”withresidues intheedible portion oftheuncooked product notexceeding
1.0p.p.m.
6. Objective andrationale: Protection ofhuman health
./.G/SPS/N/CAN/35
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7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents andlanguage(s) inwhich these areavailable: Canada Gazette, PartI,
29November 1997
9. Proposed date ofadoption: Notstated
10. Proposed date ofentry intoforce: Notstated
11. Final date forcomments: 10February 1998
Agency orauthority designated tohandle comments: National Enquiry Point
12. Texts available from: National enquiry point [X]oraddress, telefax number andE-mail
address (ifavailable) ofother body: