RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/CAN/9
16April 1996
ORGANIZATION
(96-1382)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member toAgreement notifying: CANADA
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Health Canada
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with
theWTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable): Cocoa and
chocolate products
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document: Proposed Amendment totheFood
andDrug Regulations (Schedule No.719)(pages 976-986)
5. Description ofcontent: Note: Items (a),(b)and(c)below have been notified under
theTBT Agreement
Division 4oftheFood andDrugs Regulations includes anumber ofstandards of
identity andcomposition foravariety ofcocoa andchocolate products. Since the
promulgation ofthecurrent standards, theindustry hasundergone evolutionary changes
inthedomestic andinternational marketplaces. Amendments totheRegulations are,
therefore, proposed, which willreflect current industry practices andprovide flexibility
totheindustry withrespect tothedevelopment ofnewproducts.
Theproposed amendments would:
(a) revise thestandards forcocoa butter, cocoa nibsandchocolate, toenhance
quality parameters;
(b) establish newcompositional standards forwhite chocolate, andbittersweet
chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate anddarkchocolate, thereby providing an
enhanced levelofassurance regarding thecomposition andconsistency ofsuch
products;
(c) modify thefollowing standards tomore clearly distinguish differences in
product composition:
- cocoa liquor, cocoa mass, unsweetened chocolate, bitter chocolate, and
chocolate liquor,
- sweet chocolate,
- milkchocolate,
- cocoa andcocoa powder, and
- lowfatcocoa powder;
./.G/SPS/N/CAN/9
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(d) enhance theopportunity forinnovation andprovide greater flexibility to
manufacturers bypermitting theaddition ofabroader range ofmilkand
sweetening ingredients tococoa andchocolate products; andbypermitting the
useofadditional pHadjusting agents incocoa products, andemulsifying agents
inchocolate products.
With respect tothepHadjusting agents andemulsifying agents, these foodadditives
arecurrently approved foruseinawidevariety ofproducts, sothatthecurrent
proposal represents anextension ofuse. These proposed extensions ofusehavebeen
evaluated from thestandpoint ofhealth andsafety andareconsidered acceptable.
6. Objective andrationale: Protection ofhuman health
7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents: Canada Gazette, PartI,30March 1996
9. Proposed date ofadoption andentry intoforce: Notstated
10. Final date forcomments: 14June1996
11. Texts available from: National enquiry point [X]oraddress andtelefax number ofother
body: