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WTO notification · SPS

CanadaProposed measure, not in force yet

Food – Canada

Official title

Proposal to modify the tables of Microbiological Criteria for Food and Microbiological Reference Methods for Food and publish a new guidance document

Canada notified this proposed SPS measure to the WTO on 22 June 2026. The comment period closed on 25 August 2026.

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Source: WTO ePing (opens in a new tab). Summaries by Expodite, which is independent of the WTO.

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At a glance

Products

Microbiological criteria for food

Notifying member
Canada
Status
Proposed measure, not in force yet
Objectives
  • Food safety
Area
SPS: Food safety, animal and plant healthSanitary and phytosanitary measures
Notification type
Regular notification
Document symbol
G/SPS/N/CAN/1642
Keywords
Food safety, Human health

Key dates

Distributed by the WTO
Comment deadline
Closed on 25 August 2026
Proposed adoption
The proposed modification described in the notice would be legally enabled once published in Health Canada's Table of Microbiological Criteria for Food and the Table of Microbiological Reference Metho
Proposed entry into force
The proposed modification described in the notice would come into force the day it is made to the Table of Microbiological Criteria for Food and the Table of Microbiological Reference Methods for Food

How to comment

The comment period closed on 25 August 2026. You can still raise concerns about the measure with your country's WTO SPS enquiry point, quoting the document symbol G/SPS/N/CAN/1642; it can take them up with Canada.

Find your country's enquiry point on WTO ePing (opens in a new tab)

What the notification says

Health Canada conducted a comprehensive review of microbiological criteria for food. The review considered current scientific evidence, surveillance and epidemiological data, risk assessments, results of previous targeted consultations, comments received during the modernization of Part B of the Food and Drug Regulations, and international comparisons. The proposed criteria are considered achievable by industry and realistic to implement. As a result of the review, Health Canada is proposing to: update the regulatory microbiological criteria (i.e., microbiological standards) in the Table of Microbiological Criteria for Food and the Table of Microbiological Reference Methods for Food; publish a new guidance document containing some of the updated non-regulatory microbiological criteria (i.e., microbiological guidelines) currently outlined in the 2008 Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB) Standards and Guidelines for Microbiological Safety of Food – An Interpretive Summary. The purpose of this document is to publicly announce Health Canada’s intention in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for those wishing to submit comments, inquiries or new scientific information relevant to the proposed modifications.

Sources

Expodite writes its summary from the official record. The notification and the documents it notifies are on the WTO's own websites.

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