Vol. 142, No. 50 — December 13, 2008

GOVERNMENT NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT

Food and Drug Regulations — Amendments

Interim Marketing Authorization

Provision currently exists in the Food and Drug Regulations for the use of ascorbic acid as a preservative in unstandardized foods and a variety of standardized foods, including canned white asparagus, canned mushrooms and frozen fruit at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice.

Health Canada has received submissions to permit the use of ascorbic acid as a preservative in canned pears, canned pineapple, canned apples, canned potatoes and canned salsifies at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. Evaluation of available data supports the safety and effectiveness of ascorbic acid as a preservative in the production of these food products.

The use of ascorbic acid will benefit consumers by increasing the availability of quality food products. It will also benefit industry through more efficient and improved manufacturing conditions.

Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to recommend that the Food and Drug Regulations be amended to permit the use of ascorbic acid as a preservative in the production of the foods mentioned above at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice.

As a means to improve the responsiveness of the regulatory system, an Interim Marketing Authorization (IMA) is being issued to permit the immediate use of ascorbic acid in the production of canned pears, canned pineapple, canned apples, canned potatoes and canned salsifies at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice, while the regulatory process is undertaken to amend the Regulations. The foods described above are exempted from the application of sections 6 and 6.1 of the Food and Drugs Act and section B.16.007, paragraphs B.01.042(a) and (c), of the Food and Drug Regulations. In addition, canned pears are exempted from subparagraph B.11.101(c)(iv), canned pineapple is exempted from subparagraph B.11.101(c)(x), canned apples are exempted from subparagraph B.11.101(c)(v), canned potatoes and canned salsifies are exempted from paragraph B.11.002(c) of the Food and Drug Regulations.

The proposed regulatory amendments would be enabling measures to allow the sale of additional foods containing ascorbic acid as a preservative. The amendments are supported by the safety assessment and would have low impact on the economy and the environment. Consequently, the regulatory amendments may proceed directly to final approval and publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

Interested persons may make representations with respect to Health Canada’s intention to amend the Regulations within 75 days after the date of publication of this notice. All such representations must cite the Canada Gazette, Part I, and the date of publication of this notice, and be addressed to the contact person identified below.

Contact

Marie-Claude Tardif, Associate Director, Bureau of Food Regulatory, International and Interagency Affairs, Health Canada, 200 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway, Address Locator 0702C1, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, 613-957-1750 (telephone), 613-941-3537 (fax), sche-ann@hc-sc.gc.ca (email).

December 3, 2008

MEENA BALLANTYNE
Assistant Deputy Minister
Health Products and Food Branch

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT

Food and Drug Regulations — Amendments

Interim Marketing Authorization

Provision currently exists in the Food and Drug Regulations for the use of citric acid as a pH adjusting agent in a variety of standardized and unstandardized food products at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice.

Health Canada has received a submission to permit the use of citric acid as a pH adjusting agent in pickled beets at a level of use consistent with good manufacturing practice. Evaluation of available data supports the safety and effectiveness of citric acid as a pH adjusting agent in the production of pickled beets.

The use of citric acid will benefit consumers by increasing the availability of quality food products. It will also benefit industry through more efficient and improved manufacturing conditions.

Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to recommend that the Food and Drug Regulations be amended to permit the use of citric acid as a pH adjusting agent in the production of pickled beets at a level of use consistent with good manufacturing practice.

As a means to improve the responsiveness of the regulatory system, an Interim Marketing Authorization (IMA) is being issued to permit the immediate use of citric acid in the production of pickled beets, at a level consistent with good manufacturing practice, while the regulatory process is undertaken to amend the Regulations. The food described above is exempted from the application of sections 6 and 6.1 of the Food and Drugs Act and section B.16.007, section B.11.051 and paragraphs B.01.042(a) and (c) of the Food and Drug Regulations.

The proposed regulatory amendments would be enabling measures to allow the sale of additional foods containing citric acid as a pH adjusting agent. The amendments are supported by the safety assessment and would have low impact on the economy and the environment. Consequently, the regulatory amendments may proceed directly to final approval and publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

Interested persons may make representations with respect to Health Canada’s intention to amend the Regulations within 75 days after the date of publication of this notice. All such representations must cite the Canada Gazette, Part I, and the date of publication of this notice, and be addressed to the contact person identified below.

Contact

Marie-Claude Tardif, Associate Director, Bureau of Food Regulatory, International and Interagency Affairs, Health Canada, 200 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway, Address Locator 0702C1, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, 613-957-1750 (telephone), 613-941-3537 (fax), sche-ann@hc-sc.gc.ca (email).

December 3, 2008

MEENA BALLANTYNE
Assistant Deputy Minister
Health Products and Food Branch

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DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL

Appointments

December 3, 2008

JACQUELINE GRAVELLE
Manager

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DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL

Appointments

December 3, 2008

JACQUELINE GRAVELLE
Manager

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SUPREME COURT OF CANADA

SUPREME COURT ACT

Session advanced

The session of the Supreme Court of Canada which would normally begin on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, will be advanced and shall begin on Monday, January 12, 2009.

December 13, 2008

ANNE ROLAND
Registrar

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BANK OF CANADA

Balance sheet as at November 30, 2008

(Millions of dollars)      Unaudited

I declare that the foregoing return is correct according to the books of the Bank.

Ottawa, December 5, 2008

H. A. WOERMKE
Acting Chief Accountant

I declare that the foregoing return is to the best of my knowledge and belief correct, and shows truly and clearly the financial position of the Bank, as required by section 29 of the Bank of Canada Act.

Ottawa, December 5, 2008

M. CARNEY
Governor

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