Appendix 4: List of Acronyms and Definitions

The DSL is an inventory of 24 017 (in August 2001) existing substances in Canada. The original list was composed of substances that were in commerce in Canada between January 1, 1984, and December 31, 1986. Substances are added to the list by meeting the requirements of the NSN Regulations (CEPA, sections 66 and 87). The List allows for a distinction to be made between existing substances and those that are new to Canada.

The ECAACC was a multistakeholder committee established in 1985 by the federal Ministers of Environment and Health to review proposals for a number of improvements to the 1976 Environmental Contaminants Act. The objectives of the Committee were to identify proposals for amendments where consensus agreement exists. The ECAACC submitted its final report in 1986.

The list of chemical substances in commerce in Europe. In August 2001, EINECS contained 100 192 substances.

In Australia, the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme came into effect in 1990. It is administered by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (Worksafe Australia), managed by the Director of Chemicals Notification and Assessment and overseen by the Minister for Industrial Relations. As with other countries, the regulation of new chemicals is based on a distinction between established domestic substances and new substances. The Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances consists of over 40 000 substances and is an "open" inventory to which new substances are added five years after they have been assessed. (From Discussion Paper: Cost Recovery for the CEPA New Substances Notification Program (Chemicals and Polymers), Environment Canada, 1998)

The statutory powers for the development of notification regulations within CEPA allowed Environment Canada and Health Canada to establish a new assessment program recommended by the Environmental Contaminants Act Amendments Consultative Committee consultation process. The main regulatory features of the program are establishment of classes of substances (schedules); identification of administrative and information requirements; timing of notification prior to import or manufacture; requirements for the departments to assess information within a set time; and specification of conditions, test procedures and laboratory practices to be followed when developing test data.

The NDSL specifies substances that are not on the DSL but are believed to be in international commerce. The NDSL is based on the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory of Substances. Substances listed on the NDSL require less detailed notification packages for assessment than substances that are new to both the Canadian marketplace and world commerce (section 66 of CEPA).

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) instructs the federal Ministers of Environment and Health to develop a list of substances that should be given priority for assessment to determine whether they are "toxic" as defined under the Act. The Ministers may recommend controls for those substances that are found to be "CEPA-toxic." Management strategies for such substances are developed through a Strategic Options Process in consultation with stakeholders. (From Executive Summary of the Report of the Ministers' Expert Advisory Panel on the Second Priority Substances List (October 1995))

The list of substances that are determined to be toxic by the Governor in Council.

Under section 64 of CEPA, a substance is defined as toxic as follows:

A substance is toxic if it is entering or may enter the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that:

"From a regulatory standpoint, the Inventory lists chemical substances that are 'existing' in U.S. commerce for purposes of implementing TSCA."* In August of 2001, the TSCA Inventory contained 82 000 substances.

* Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory, "1990 Supplement to the 1985 Edition of the TSCA Inventory." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. June 1990 (EPA560/7-90-003).

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