2. Highlights

Implementation of recommendations resulting from the multistakeholder consultations is well underway. Some of the highlights on progress made to date on the implementation of various recommendations include:

• A second draft of the amended New Substances Notification Regulations is being prepared and will be distributed to stakeholders by the end of 2003 for a three week comment period. It is expected that the amended New Substances Notification Regulations will be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, no later than June 2004. The accompanying Guidelines are being revised to improve their usefulness and readability, in response to the recommendations and in accordance with the changes being made to the New Substances Notification Regulations.
• A New Substances Program Operational Policies Manualcontaining policy and procedures documents that describe how the New Substances Program operates was developed and will be published after input from stakeholders has been sought in Fall 2003. This document will be continually updated as additional policies are documented and formally approved.
• A Service Delivery Improvement Strategy is being developed, which will be based on a client expectations/satisfaction survey that will be sent out in February 2004.