Regulations Amending the PCB Regulations and the Regulations Designating Regulatory Provisions for Purposes of Enforcement (Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999)
Key findings of the strategic environmental assessment conducted for the Regulations Amending the PCB Regulations and the Regulations Designating Regulatory Provisions for Purposes of Enforcement (Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999), as published in the Canada Gazette on December 31, 2025.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic compounds with stable chemical properties that were used in electrical components until the 1970s. PCBs remain in the environment and in the living tissue of humans and animals for a long time. The PCB Regulations came into effect in 2008. They were created to protect the health of Canadians and the environment. They aim to prevent the release of PCBs into the environment. They also work to accelerate the phase-out of these substances. These regulations are established under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA, 1999) and are administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
The Regulations Amending the PCB Regulations and the Regulations Designating Regulatory Provisions for the Purposes of Enforcement (CEPA, 1999) (Regulations) provide flexibility for the use and storage of PCB-containing equipment. This flexibility applies in unique circumstances that were not foreseen at the time the PCB Regulations came into force in 2008, nor in subsequent amendments.
The amendments will extend the end-of-use deadline for PCB-containing equipment to December 31, 2026. Additionally, equipment can be used after December 31, 2026, if ministerial approval is received and conditions are met through an application process.
The amendments will also clarify certain provisions within the PCB Regulations namely:
- Explicitly prohibiting the mixing of PCB oil with non-PCB oil for the purposes of reducing the PCB concentration
- Confirming that laboratory testing is not required when PCB concentrations can be determined through reliable alternative methods
- Amending the Regulations Designating Regulatory Provisions for Purposes of Enforcement (CEPA, 1999) to list certain provisions of the PCB Regulations, including provisions resulting from the amendments outlined in the Regulations
Anticipated environmental and human health impacts
The Regulations defer the December 31, 2025, deadline for removing PCBs from certain types of PCB-containing equipment. This deferral which, while unlikely, could increase the risk of PCB releases into the environment. Exposure to PCBs, particularly through ingestion, can be toxic to both wildlife and humans. Consequently, the risk of adverse effects on the environment, wildlife, and human health is also increased because of the deferral.
Acute health effects include:
- nervous system issues
- muscle weakness
- muscle spasms
Long-term exposure to PCBs can damage the:
- liver
- immune system
- nervous system
- endocrine system
Long-term exposure can also lead to cancer.
However, most of the PCB-containing equipment that is captured by the deferral is sealed or located within buildings. The location of the equipment thus minimizes the risk of PCBs entering the environment. The existing prohibition on the release of PCBs to the environment will continue to apply.
The amendments will provide added flexibilities that promote the responsible handling of PCBs. By reducing the risk of improper disposal of PCB-containing equipment/objects, the amendments could help to prevent the release of PCBs to the environment. This could have beneficial effects on the environment and public health by decreasing the likelihood of exposure to PCBs.
Links to the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy and the United Nations 2030 Agenda
The amendments to the PCB Regulations will contribute to the 2022-2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) in advancing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its global sustainable development goals (UN SDGs):
FSDS Goal 12 - Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles
The Regulations will support this goal by helping to manage chemicals and reducing the risk they pose to the environment, wildlife and humans.
UN SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
The Regulations support target 12.4 “by 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment”.
Chemical Management Plan and Reporting
PCBs are part of the Chemicals Management Plan and have been regulated in Canada since 1977. Significant progress has been made towards ending the use of PCBs in concentrations over 50 mg/kg since the coming into force of the preceding PCB Regulations. These amendments will simply defer timelines for certain PCB-containing equipment and will continue to ensure that PCBs are managed in an environmentally safe manner.
The PCB Regulations are enforced by ECCC’s Environmental Protection Branch. Measures are in place to monitor and report on the PCB Regulations as part of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 Annual Report to Parliament. Reporting is tracked in ECCC’s database, ePCB.