interim marketing authorization regarding the use of acesulfame-potassium sucralose or a combination of these sweeteners in standardized canned fruits and in unstandardized canned fruits health canada has received a submission to permit the use of acesulfame-potassium sucralose or a combination of these sweeteners in standardized canned fruit including canned apples peaches pears pineapple grapefruit and mandarin oranges and in unstandardized canned fruits including fruit cocktail and tropical salad. the maximum level of use for acesulfame-potassium and sucralose in these products would be 0.007 and 0.025 respectively. evaluation of available data supports the safety and effectiveness of these sweeteners at the specified levels either singly or in combination in canned fruit. the use of these sweeteners will benefit both consumers and industry by providing a replacement for sweetening agents thereby helping to reduce the sugar content of canned fruit. therefore it is the intention of health canada to recommend that the food and drug regulations be amended to permit the use of acesulfame-potassium to a maximum level of 0.007 sucralose to a maximum level of 0.025 or a combination of these sweeteners in unstandardized canned fruit and canned fruit that are subject to the standard set out in section b.11.101. 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 acesulfame-potassium and sucralose as sweeteners in canned apples peaches pears pineapple grapefruit mandarin oranges fruit cocktail and tropical salad to the maximum levels indicated above while the regulatory process is undertaken to formally amend the regulations. the proposed regulatory amendments would be enabling measures to allow the sale of additional foods containing acesulfame-potassium and sucralose as sweeteners. 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