Lists of substances: Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

Parts 5 and 6 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) focus on understanding and reducing the risks posed by new and existing substances. It provides for the assessment of these substances, which should be evaluated to determine whether they meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of the Act. Parts 5 and 6 also confer the authority to implement, when appropriate, preventive or control measures in regard to the relevant aspects of the substance life cycle. Environment and Climate Change Canada shares with Health Canada the task of conducting risk assessments as well as the management associated with toxic substances.

In order to distinguish new substances from existing ones and to prescribe reporting requirements for new substances, as well as to determine which are or may be subject to risk management provisions, the Act has established or provided for the establishment of substance inventories or lists.

Domestic Substances List

The Domestic Substances List (DSL) is a list of substances manufactured in or imported into Canada on a commercial scale. The original list included approximately 23 000 substances that were in Canadian commerce between January 1984 and December 1986. The DSL is amended, on average, 12 times per year to add, update or delete substances and now contains more than 28 000 entries. The DSL can be accessed through Substances Search.

• the chemical substances portal
• the Government of Canada "Challenge" for chemical substances that are a high priority for action
• status of prioritized substances

Export Control List

The Export Control List is a list of substances whose export is controlled because their use in Canada is prohibited or severely restricted or because Canada has agreed, through an international agreement, to control their export.

Non-domestic Substances List

The Non-domestic Substances List (NDSL) is a list of substances that are not used commercially in Canada above the trigger quantities specified in the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers), but that are in international commerce. The NDSL can be accessed through Substances Search.

Priority Substances List

The Priority Substances List is a list of substances that require investigation on a priority basis to determine whether they meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of the Act.

List of Toxic Substances

The List of Toxic Substances is a list of substances that meet at least one of the criteria set out in section 64 of the Act, and that were added to Schedule 1 of the Act by the Governor in Council.

Virtual Elimination List

The Virtual Elimination List is a list of substances designated for virtual elimination.

Waste or other matter that may be disposed of at sea

Waste or other matter that may be disposed of at sea is a list of substances that are allowed, by permit, to be disposed of at sea.

Non-statutory list

Substances that have been found to meet at least one of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA, but have not been added to Schedule 1 of the Act.

Assessments and toxics management

• assessment of substances (draft assessments, final assessments and technical guidance)
• management of toxics substances (information on toxic substances managed under CEPA and related policies and processes)

National Pollutant Release Inventory

The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) is a legislated, publicly accessible inventory of pollutants released, disposed of and recycled by facilities in Canada.