Proposal to add compounds to exclusion list of volatile organic compound definition: chapter 3

3.0 Objectives

VOCs in several products are currently regulated in Canada. However, the addition of certain VOCs in the exclusion list of the VOC definition under Schedule I of CEPA 1999 allows further alignment with U.S. regulations, and provides greater flexibility to industry to utilize these compounds in their formulations. These additional compounds, as with the existing compounds on the exclusion list, have been determined to negligibly contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone.

In past years, industry associations, chemical producers and a number of coating suppliers have recommended that Environment Canada incorporate exclusions that are part of the U.S. EPA's VOC definition for several of these compounds.

The exclusion of these compounds from the CEPA 1999 VOC definition would:

• align with the United States, providing a level playing field for manufacturers and importers of products with these compounds and avoiding varying requirements across jurisdictions;
• make it easier and less expensive for industry to use these compounds as solvents in a variety of products; these compounds may possibly be used as a substitute for other solvents that are more harmful to the environment and more strictly regulated; and
• provide these manufacturers with a cost-effective compliance tool to meet the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Automotive Refinishing Products Regulations¹⁷, the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Architectural Coatings Regulations¹⁸ and other instruments.

¹⁷ http://ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/eng/regulations/detailReg.cfm?intReg=118

¹⁸ http://ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/eng/regulations/detailReg.cfm?intReg=117