Notice of Modification to the Lists of Permitted Food Additives to Enable the Use of Urease as a Food Enzyme in Wine and Sake

Background

Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety assessment of a food additive seeking approval for the use of the enzyme urease obtained from Lactobacillus fermentum in the manufacture of wine to reduce the formation of ethyl carbamate.

Since this is a food additive that was not previously permitted for use in Canada, Health Canada published, on March 11, 2013, a Notice of Proposal to enable the use of a new food additive, urease, as a food enzyme in wine and sake and requested comments on the proposal. No new scientific information was submitted to the Department as a result of this publication.

As no safety concerns were raised, either through this assessment, nor through the comments received during the corresponding consultation, the Department has enabled its use as described in the information document below by updating the List of Permitted Food Enzymes, effective September 3, 2013. The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for any inquiries or for those wishing to submit any new scientific information relevant to the safety of this food additive.

Information Document

To obtain an electronic copy of the Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Food Enzymes to Enable the Use of Urease as a Food Enzyme in Wine and Sake - Document Reference number: NOM/ADM-0016,  please contact our publications office or send an e-mail to publications@hc-sc.gc.ca with the subject heading "hpfb BCS nom-adm-0016-eng".

Contact Information

Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific information on the safety in use of any food additive, including urease. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of this additive or to submit any inquiries may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically. If you wish to contact the Food Directorate electronically, please use the words "urease" in the subject line of your e-mail.

Bureau of Chemical Safety
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway
Tunney's Pasture, PL: 2202C
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9
E-mail address: bcs-bipc@hc-sc.gc.ca

Supporting Information

Food Additives