CANADA: BEER The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif. 96.166. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: Canada. If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2): 2. Agency responsible: Health Canada. Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification can be indicated if different from above: 3. Notified under Article 2.9.2. 4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Beer. 5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Proposed Amendment to the Food and Drug Regulations (Schedule No. 1010) (pages 1522-1524). 6. Description of content: Provision currently exists in the Food and Drug Regulations for the use of hop extract and pre-isomerized hop extract in the production of beer. However, for beers prepared using these ingredients, iso-alpha acids may react with other components of beer within a short period of time after exposure to sunlight to form compounds which impart an off-odour. The use of dark-coloured bottles minimizes but does not totally prevent the development of this problem. In addition, these off-odours can occur when beer is consumed in ordinary drinking glasses in sunlight. Studies have demonstrated significant improvement in the light stability of beers prepared with reduced isomerized hop extracts. The use of these extracts was evaluated from the standpoint of safety and efficacy and is considered acceptable. Therefore, it is proposed to amend the Food and Drug Regulations to permit the use of isomerized hop extracts in beer. It is also proposed to amend the Regulations to include a standard for these ingredients 7. Objective and rationale: Prevention of deceptive practices. 8. Relevant documents: Canada Gazette, Part I, 18 May 1996. 9. Proposed date of adoption & proposed date of entry into force: not stated. 10. Final date for comments: 1 August 1996. (164)

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