PCB regulations: frequently asked questions
1. What is the purpose of these regulations?
The purpose of the PCB Regulations is to protect Canada’s environment and the health of Canadians by minimizing the risks posed by the use,
The regulations also implement Canada’s international commitments on PCBs as set out in the Stockholm Convention.
2. What are the key elements of these regulations?
The PCB Regulations establish prohibitions on the release, manufacture, export, import, offer for sale, sale,
3. How do these regulations affect Canadian businesses?
The regulations may apply to various business sectors in Canada, including electrical utilities, mining and mineral extraction and processing, iron and steel mills,
Regulatees are required to report annually on the status of their PCBs and PCB equipment in use, in storage, sent to a transfer site, sent to a destruction facility or destroyed. As well, all releases of PCBs to the environment must be reported. Reports on use, storage,
The owner of PCBs or products containing PCBs, persons engaged in the manufacture, processing, use, sale, offer for sale, storage, import or export of PCBs or products containing PCBs, and the owner or operator of a PCB storage site are required to maintain records for a minimum of five years after the destruction of the PCBs.
4. What is the timeline for implementation?
The PCB Regulations, made under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, came into force on September 5, 2008. They were amended on March 11, 2010, December 8, 2011, and April 23, 2014. Recent amendments adjusting certain end-of-use timelines will come into force on January 1, 2015. Regulatees are required to report on the status of their PCBs and PCB equipment for each calendar year, by March 31 of the following year. They are also required to submit a written report to the PCB Reporting System on any release of PCBs to the environment.
The following tables list regulatory timelines for the use of PCBs and equipment containing PCBs.
| PCB item | PCB concentration | End-of-use deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical equipment and liquids for servicing PCB equipment | 500 mg/kg or more | December 31, 2009 |
| Electrical equipment (if the equipment is not located within 100 m of a prescribed site, e.g., hospitals, child care facilities, schools) | 50 mg/kg to less than 500 g/kg | December 31, 2025 |
| Electrical equipment | Less than 50 mg/kg | No end-of-use date |
| PCB item | PCB concentration | End-of-use deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical equipment and liquids for servicing PCB equipment with a granted extension | 500 mg/kg or more | Up to December 31, 2014 |
| Current transformers, potential transformers, circuit breakers, reclosers and bushings | 500 mg/kg or more | As of January 1, 2015, end-of-use date will be December 31, 2025 |
| Electrical equipment in prescribed locations | 50 mg/kg to less than 500 mg/kg | December 31, 2009 |
| Lamp ballasts and pole top transformers | 50 mg/kg or more | December 31, 2025 |
5. Where can I get more information?
More information on PCBs and the PCB Regulations can be found on the PCBs in the environment web section.
Inquiries to the PCB Program can be made by emailing PCBProgram@ec.gc.ca or by phoning 1-844-815-6418.
For more information
- Federal regulatory management
- The Cabinet Directive on Regulatory Management
- The Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council
To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit the Canada Gazette and Consulting with Canadians websites.
Note
This document is intended to provide contextual information on the PCB Regulations. It does not replace the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 or the PCB Regulations. In the event of any inconsistencies, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the PCB Regulations shall prevail.
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