Lists of substances: Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

Part 5 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) focuses 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. Part 5 also confers 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 that, between January 1, 1984 and December 31, 1986 were in Canadian commerce; used for manufacturing purposes; or manufactured in or imported to Canada in a quantity of 100 kg or more in any calendar year. The DSL contains approximately 23 000 substances. It is amended regularly to include additional substances that have been deemed eligible following their assessment under the new substances notification and assessment regime.

• Categorization of the domestic substances list
• Chemical substances portal
• The Government of Canada "challenge" for chemical substances that are a high priority for action
  
• Status of prioritized substances
  The status of each substance identified as a priority for further action during the categorization process under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 is represented in the list "status of prioritized substances". This list builds upon those that were posted on the CEPA Registry following the completion of categorization (see categorization of existing substances). It focuses on the priorities to be addressed, instead of the entire Domestic substances list, denotes under which initiative these priorities are being addressed, and includes new priorities identified since 2006. It is important to note that this list is not static and as various initiatives under the chemicals management plan (CMP) unfold, or information changes, it will be updated periodically.

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 is an inventory of substances that are not on the domestic substances list, but are in commercial use internationally.

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.

Inventory

The national pollutant release inventory (NPRI) is a legislated, publicly accessible inventory of pollutants released, disposed of and recycled by facilities in Canada.