Chemicals management plan progress report
Table of Contents
About this report
This eighth issue of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) Progress Report covers activities between January and June 2017. It provides information about events, dates of interest and future engagement opportunities.
The report is produced jointly by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada.
For information about the CMP, or to find previous issues of the CMP Progress Report, visit the Chemical Substances website. You can have the latest news emailed to you by subscribing through the website. This feature will also let you know how to be involved in information sessions and consultations. Feedback and suggestions.
CMP highlights
Since the launch of the CMP in 2006, the government has:
- addressed around 3,200 of the 4,300 chemicals identified as priorities for action by 2020-21, including draft and final assessments;
- found over 420 existing substances to be harmful to the environment and/or human health;
- implemented over 80 risk management actions for existing chemicals (additional tools are in development); and
- received approximately 5,424 notifications for new substances prior to their introduction into the Canadian market. These notifications have been assessed and over 270 risk management actions have been taken, when necessary, to manage potential risks to Canadians and their environment.
New chemical substances website
The Chemical Substances website has moved to the new Government of Canada website, Canada.ca. Our new homepage.
All URLs have changed; however old addresses will redirect to the new ones until October 2017. Please update your bookmarks.
If you notice a problem or have any concerns, please contact.
Highlights
Proposed regulations on asbestos expected by the end of 2017
The government expects to publish proposed regulations prohibiting the import, use, sale and offer for sale of asbestos, as well as the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale and import of products containing asbestos, for public comment by the end of 2017.
On December 15, 2016, the Government of Canada announced a whole-of-government approach to fulfill its commitment for a comprehensive ban on asbestos, and products containing asbestos, by 2018.
The comprehensive ban includes a number of initiatives, one of which is the development of regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. This activity is being led by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada.
To date, the regulatory development process has included two opportunities for consultation. First, a notice of intent was published on December 17, 2016, to seek input on the general approach.
Following that, a consultation document providing details on the proposed regulatory approach was published on April 21, 2017 to seek additional information and comments.
The information and comments received on the notice of intent and the consultation document are being considered in drafting the proposed regulations.
Health Canada is also raising awareness of the health impacts of asbestos. Proactive communications efforts are ongoing to provide Canadians with clear and consistent information on the health risks associated with asbestos exposure, as well as protective actions people can take to reduce their exposure.
Results of mandatory information-gathering on asbestos
In December 2016, the Notice with respect to asbestos was also published to obtain information on the manufacture, import, export and use of asbestos and products containing asbestos in Canada for the years 2013 to 2015, as well as socio-economic information. The information is being used to inform the development of proposed regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 that would seek to prohibit all future activities respecting asbestos and products containing asbestos.
Formaldehyde regulations being developed
To protect the health of Canadians, the Government of Canada is developing regulations to reduce emissions of formaldehyde from composite wood products.
Formaldehyde can be a significant component in resins used as adhesives or binders in composite wood products. Testing has shown that it is released from more than 90% of selected composite wood products tested, and releases increase with higher temperatures and humidity.
The regulatory development process will include consultations with stakeholders, including provincial and territorial governments, industry, non-governmental organizations, the public and other stakeholders. The proposed regulations are expected to be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, in 2018.
The Government of Canada and other jurisdictions have concluded that formaldehyde is a human health concern at elevated levels.
Short-term exposure can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and may worsen asthma symptoms, particularly in children. Longer-term exposure may be linked to respiratory symptoms and allergic sensitivity in children. At very high levels, formaldehyde can cause cancer of the nasal passageways.
Given the human health concern and the lack of a mandatory tool to reduce indoor emissions of formaldehyde from composite wood products, a Notice of Intent to develop regulations on formaldehyde under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on March 18, 2017.
The proposed regulation is being developed as a nation-wide approach to reduce exposure to formaldehyde emissions from certain wood products produced domestically and imported into Canada. These regulations recognize current North American activities, specifically those of the United States Environmental Protection Agency which published Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products in December 2016.
Government phasing out the use of microbeads in toiletries
The Government of Canada has published regulations to phase out the use of microbeads in toiletries to protect the long-term health of the environment and to help keep Canada's lakes and rivers clean.
Because plastic microbeads - found in such things as scrubs, bath products, facial cleansers and toothpastes - pose a risk to the environment, plastic microbeads that are five millimetres or smaller in size were added to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 on June 29, 2016.
The regulations will phase out the manufacture, import, and sale of microbeads in toiletries used to exfoliate or cleanse. This includes non-prescription drugs and natural health products that contain plastic microbeads.
As of January 1, 2018, the manufacture and import of toiletries that contain plastic microbeads will be prohibited, unless the toiletries are also natural health products or non-prescription drugs, in which case prohibition will begin on July 1, 2018.
As of July 1, 2018, the sale of toiletries that contain plastic microbeads will be prohibited, unless the toiletries are also natural health products or non-prescription drugs, in which case the prohibition will begin on July 1, 2019.
Risk assessment and risk management
The government assesses and manages, where appropriate, the potential health and ecological risks associated with chemical substances. It does so through various initiatives, each targeting a different group of chemicals. Here are highlights of the risk assessment and associated risk management activities between January and June 2017 for various initiatives:
Coming risk management publications and consultations
Risk management
The government publishes a two-year rolling workplan of risk management activities and consultations. The workplan covers items such as risk management documents, information-gathering initiatives, risk management instruments, performance measurement initiatives and international risk management activities and will include many of the following initiatives:
New federal environmental quality guidelines on the horizon
Federal environmental quality guidelines are being developed under section 54 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Their use is voluntary unless prescribed by regulation or binding agreements.
Draft federal environmental quality guidelines for bisphenol A, hexavalent chromium, perfluorooctane sulfonate and triclosanwere published for a 60-day public comment period in the Canada Gazette on February 11, 2017. Based on comments received the guidelines may be updated with final publication in the Canada Gazette.
Final guidelines have already been published for alcohol ethoxylates, cobalt, hydrazine, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, chlorinated alkanes, hexabromocyclododecane, tetrabromobisphenol A and vanadium.
The guidelines are being developed using approaches consistent with the assessment processes used by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment and for ecological screening of substances.
For information, contact the National Guidelines and Standards Office, Science and Risk Assessment Directorate.
Chemical and polymer risk assessment summaries
The New Substances Program is expanding the scope of the risk assessment summary project.
The program has since November 2013 only been publishing risk assessment summaries for new chemicals and polymers for which a restriction had been imposed and for which a notice has been published in the Canada Gazette.
Beginning in the summer of 2017, it will begin publishing additional summaries for new chemicals and polymers that meet the following criteria:
- The risk assessment is completed.
- The notification was made under either Schedule 5, 6, 10 or 11 of the regulations.
- No restrictions have been imposed.
This expanded publication program will see approximately 90 new chemical and polymer risk assessment summaries published each year.
New substances program: progress on living organisms
Between April 2016 and March 2017:
- 3 pre-notification consultations were completed;
- 15 new living organisms were assessed;
- 1 Significant New Activity notice was published;
- 3 risk assessment summaries were published;
- 2 living organisms were added to the Domestic Substances List;
- 1 advisory note was published.
New substances program: progress on chemicals and polymers
Between April 2016 and March 2017:
- 13 pre-notification consultations were completed;
- 323 new chemicals and polymers were assessed;
- 3 ministerial conditions were published;
- 6 Significant New Activity notices were published;
- 5 risk assessment summaries were published;
- 248 substances were added to the Domestic Substances List;
- 793 substances were deleted from the Non-domestic Substances List;
- 189 substances were added to the Non-domestic Substances List.
Risk management progress
Performance measurement evaluates the ongoing relevance, success and effectiveness of the actions taken to manage risks for substances determined to be toxic under criteria set by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. In other words, it looks at whether objectives have been met for human health and environmental concerns.
Here are highlights from recent monitoring and performance measurement activities
Bisphenol-A (BPA)
Review and analysis of recent product testing and other research projects demonstrated that the desired result for human health, which was to minimize the exposure of infants to BPA to the greatest extent practicable, has been met.
The two major exposure sources for infants at the time of the assessment (2008) were liquid infant formula and polycarbonate baby bottles.
In 2010, polycarbonate baby bottles containing BPA were banned. By 2014, the manufacturers of infant formula had abandoned or phased out the use of packaging containing BPA for liquid infant formula. Product testing of both the baby bottles and formula packaging has confirmed that BPA is no longer found in these products. As a result, the health objective of reducing the risk to infants from exposure to BPA has been met.
Mercury
Review and analysis of recent biomonitoring data demonstrated that progress towards the desired result for human health, which was to minimize exposures to mercury to the greatest extent practicable, continues to be made.
For example, levels of mercury in the most exposed and most susceptible population (pregnant women in the North) are continuing to decrease, as demonstrated by biomonitoring data. Canada has also made extensive progress domestically towards minimizing anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury to the Canadian environment.
PFCAs (perfluorocarboxylic acids)
The signatories to the Environmental Performance Agreement on PFCAs and related substances sold in Canada met their commitment to eliminate PFCAs in their perfluorochemical products sold in Canada by the end of 2015.
This was the conclusion of an evaluation, completed in 2017, of data received from signatories to the agreement.
The participating companies had voluntarily made the commitment and reported annually to Environment and Climate Change Canada information on the content of their perfluorochemical products sold in the country.
This risk management instrument was successful in capturing many of the companies who sell PFCAs in Canada.
The Environmental Performance Agreement on PFCAs was developed by the Government of Canada as an early risk management measure on PFCAs to prevent their manufacture and import into Canada.
Following the expiry of the Environmental Performance Agreement, PFCA substances, notably perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs), were added to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012. These regulations prohibit the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale and import of PFOA and LC-PFCAs, with a limited number of exemptions.
As risk management is an ongoing process, the program will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of these risk management measures. If the government is not satisfied that the risk has been sufficiently prevented or reduced, it can take further action.
Releases and publications
Petroleum substances
February 2017
- The final screening assessment and the risk management approach document were released and the related notice was published for two liquefied petroleum gases.
Substance groupings initiative
March 2017
- The final screening assessment for certain azo disperse dyes, the risk management approach for Disperse Yellow 3 and the related notice were published. This assessment was the last of the Aromatic Azo and Benzidine-based Substance Grouping.
- A consultation document on the options for addressing certain aromatic azo and benzidine-based substances with effects of concern was also published.
May 2017
- The final screening assessment and the risk management approach document were released and the related notice was published for cobalt and cobalt-containing substances.
June 2017
- The final screening assessment and the risk management approach document were released and the related notice was published for MDI and MDA substances.
Micro-organisms
January 2017
The draft screening assessment and the related notice were published for:
- Bacillus circulans strain ATCC 9500;
- Bacillus megaterium strain ATCC 14581;
- Chaetomium globosum strain ATCC 6205;
- Micrococcus luteus strain ATCC 4698.
The final screening assessment and the related notice was published for:
- Aspergillus oryzae strain ATCC 11866;
- Pseudomonas putida strains ATCC 12633, ATCC 31483, ATCC 31800, and ATCC 700369;
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain F53.
February 2017
The draft screening assessment and the related notice was published for:
CMP3 substances
January 2017
The draft screening assessment and the related notice were published for:
February 2017
The draft screening assessment and the related notice were published for:
March 2017
The draft screening assessment and the related notice were published for:
April 2017
The draft screening assessment and the related notice were published for:
June 2017
The draft screening assessment and the related notice were published for:
Polymers
March 2017
The draft screening assessment and the related notice were published for the second phase of the Polymer Rapid Screening.
Update on other chemicals management plan initiatives
Update on third phase of the CMP
The Government of Canada published an update on Chemicals Management Plan initiatives in June 2017. A new web page outlining all initiatives under the third phase of the CMP is part of this update.
Included in this update are workplans for the next two years, including:
- planned risk assessment publications for chemicals, polymers and living organisms;
- planned risk management activities;
- information-gathering initiatives.
Also included are:
- the results of the 2016 prioritization exercise under the Approach for the Identification of Risk Assessment Priorities;
- updates on health research and monitoring;
- updates on nanomaterials and updates on activities under the Food and Drug Regulations.
Planned CMP information-gathering initiatives
Information-gathering notices published in the Canada Gazette
Since January 2017, the government has published three mandatory notices in the Canada Gazette under the information-gathering provisions of section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
- The Notice with respect to substances included as part of the 2017 Inventory Update collects information on 1,430 chemicals and polymers to inform priority-setting and risk assessment activities;
- The Notice to provide information for the risk management of certain substances - summer 2017 and the Notice to provide information for the risk management of certain substances - fall 2017 will gather data on approximately 80 substances for the purposes of informing risk management actions.
More information on these notices, including deadlines, guidance on how to report and a link to the online reporting tool, is available on the Information-gathering Initiatives web page of the Chemical Substances website.
CMP2 information-gathering summaries available
To promote transparency, the government has published summaries of non-confidential information received in response to data gathering conducted for the Substance Groupings Initiative of the second phase of the Chemicals Management Plan. A descriptive summary and Excel data sheets for each CMP2 substance grouping are planned to be availableon the Government of Canada's Open Data platform when ready. The documents compile responses to the mandatory notices, as well as information provided on a voluntary basis. Summaries for more recent initiatives will continue to be published in the same manner.
New information-gathering plan
A two-year rolling information-gathering plan has been made available to the public. This plan is intended to provide stakeholders with an overview of active and potential upcoming information-gathering initiatives. This includes the time periods during which mandatory notices may be published, as well as when non-mandatory initiatives may be in effect. There is also a new information-gathering main page, and information-gathering initiatives web page.
New 'information sheets'
The Public Summary web product has been revised and renamed the CMP Information Sheet. The updated format is a result of input from stakeholders and information gained through a review of similar products in other jurisdictions. The Information Sheet provides an overview of the risk assessment and, where applicable, risk management activities for substance assessment under the CMP. Some enhancements include the addition of key health and ecological effects associated with substances and more links to related material. The new format will be used for assessments being published this summer.
CMP science committee
The CMP Science Committee will be renewed for a second term, and new core members are expected to be announced in the summer of 2017.
The Science Committee was created in 2013, and since its first meeting in February 2014, it has provided valuable input to the departments.
The CMP Science Committee website links to reports and meeting records.
Stakeholder advisory council
The Stakeholder Advisory Council is a stakeholder group that continues to contribute to the implementation of the CMP. The Council meets twice annually. It met this year in May and is scheduled to meet again in November. The Council's web page provides summary reports of its meetings and activities.
CMP multi-stakeholder workshops
CMP multi-stakeholder workshops are offered bi-annually with a focus on consultations on current and future CMP topics. Planning is underway for the next workshop, scheduled to take place in November 2017.
General news
Update on pesticides
Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency is in the process of finalizing itsCumulative Risk Assessment Framework.
A consultation process in the spring allowed the Pest Management Regulatory Agency to collect comments on the regulatory proposal, PRO2017-01; those comments are being considered as the framework is being finalized.
The consultation document describes the framework and methodology that the Pest Management Regulatory Agency will use for assessing the cumulative effects of pesticides with a common mechanism of toxicity, taking into account approaches of other chemical regulators.
In November 2016, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency also published a regulatory directive on management of pesticide re-evaluation policy. The policy describes the six phases of the re-evaluation process, outlining clear timelines and expectations, and aims at enhancing transparency, predictability and stakeholder engagement for the Pest Management Regulatory Agency's re-evaluation process. It also outlines the agency's commitment to publish an annual multi-year work plan on re-evaluations and special reviews.
New risk assessment series fact sheets available
The updated risk assessment webpage provides links to risk assessment fact sheets. The newest fact sheets are:
- Application of Weight of Evidence and Precaution in Risk Assessment;
- Consideration of Endocrine-related Effects in Risk Assessment;
- The Identification of Risk Assessment Priorities;
- Uses of Human Biomonitoring Data in Risk Assessment.
More fact sheets are planned on other topics related to risk assessment. Watch the Chemical Substances website for updates.
Rare earth elements, uranium and thorium in the indoor environment
The latest paper from the Canadian House Dust Study, published in Indoor Air, reports on nationally representative indoor dust concentrations and surface loadings of rare earth elements, plus uranium and thorium.
The rare earth elements include scandium, yttrium and the lanthanides, which are the 14 elements from lanthanum to lutetium in the periodic table.
Interesting correlations suggest primary indoor sources of the study elements, including:
- uranium and thorium in cat litter, caused by geological impurities in bentonite clay;
- lighter flints in homes of smokers, which are made of a combustible mixture of rare earth elements called "mischmetal" and;
- hardwood floor coatings, which incorporate rare earth elements such as pigments and drying agents.
Rare earth elements are in high demand because they are used in electronics and high-performing speakers, as tiny magnets in MP3 players and ear buds, and as colours in flat screen TVs and monitors. Rare earth elements are also used in green technologies such as hybrid car batteries, wind turbines and solar panels.
As their commercial relevance grows, occupational and environmental exposures to rare earth elements are expected to increase too.
The Canadian House Dust Study was designed to provide a nationally representative baseline against which changes over time may be monitored, and a point of comparison for human health risk assessments in areas impacted by mining and e-waste recycling.
The study used a rigorous random sampling approach to collect settled dust samples from 1,025 urban homes across 13 cities with a population greater than 100,000.
Information from this study will be used to inform risk assessments in CMP3 for the Uranium and the Rare Earth Elements Group (5 substances).
New biomonitoring report available this summer
Health Canada will release the Fourth Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada in the summer of 2017.
The report will present data for 56 substances measured in the Canadian Health Measures Survey 2014-2015, including the first national data for parabens.
The report will be available on Health Canada's biomonitoring webpage, and summary data will be published on the Open Data Portal.
Tenth anniversary of national biomonitoring program
The national biomonitoring program conducted under the Canadian Health Measures Survey is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2017.
Over the past decade, over 250 chemicals have been measured in 29,000 Canadians from three to 79 years of age at 81 sites across Canada.
The data are an important resource for assessing Canadians' exposure and informing risk assessment decisions and risk management actions under the Chemicals Management Plan.
Canadian network for human health and the environment
The Canadian Network for Human Health and the Environment, operated by the New Brunswick Lung Association, is working to facilitate engagement of health and environment stakeholders in CMP 3.
This type of capacity-building arrangement has been in place since the inception of the CMP. It enables civil society groups to submit evidence-based comments and feedback during the CMP public comment periods.
The network has nearly 500 members across Canada, including NGOs, researchers, academics and policy organizations. It will continue to expand its membership and awareness of CMP 3 through its newsletter, website, social media accounts and webinars.
The New Brunswick Lung Association has a long tradition of outreach to Canadians and will have a role to play in improving CMP communications and public outreach to Canadians.
Making it real: public outreach to Canadians
A renewed Ecolab exhibit at Montreal's Biosphere Museum opened in the spring of 2017.
The exhibit, operated by Environment and Climate Change Canada, was designed to integrate information about household environmental health issues, including indoor air quality, radon and water quality as well as chemicals used in the home.
In place for several years, Ecolab enables visitors to discover the steps of the scientific method in a laboratory setting. Its goal is, among other things, to make visitors aware of their influence as consumers by providing them with tools that will help them make more sustainable and healthy choices.
The renewed exhibit features interactive tools such as an interactive 3-D model of a house interior showing how Canadians can make better choices for their health, and a quiz game called Tic-Tac-Tox with tips and information on substances often found in the home, such as lead, carbon monoxide, mould and radon.
The project lead is Health Canada (Quebec Region), and the exhibit complements CMP public outreach to raise awareness on the potential risks and safer use of chemicals in the home.
New public opinion research shapes outreach strategy
Earlier this year, EKOS Research Associates conducted a national survey of 2,100 Canadians to better understand Canadians' information needs regarding the potential health risks from household chemicals, and the safer use of these substances.
Findings are shaping the CMP's five-year collaborative public outreach strategy. This includes new tools and messaging to communicate science-based program information to Canadians to encourage behaviour change and improve health.
Highlights of the research include:
- Most Canadians feel that their own or their family's health is affected by common environmental factors in and around their home, including air and water quality, and household chemicals;
- Canadians have a keen interest in staying informed on how best to protect their health from common environmental factors around the home, with two-thirds indicating they would like to learn more on the subject;
- Key motivating factors for Canadians to take steps to reduce risks include protecting health, followed by "doing good" for the environment;
- There is a high degree of trust in Health Canada and health care professionals, followed by not-for-profit health groups, as a source for this information;
- Canadians are interested in receiving risk mitigation information from product labels and retailers, in addition to the Health Canada website, health professionals and the media.
Nanoscale prioritization results expected in 2018
Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada are in the process of prioritizing nanoscale forms of substances on the Domestic Substances List.
This follows a mandatory information-gathering survey, published under section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, which identified 53 substances as being manufactured and/or imported at the nanoscale in Canada.
Results of prioritization are expected to be available in the spring of 2018.
Looking forward, the government is working towards developing a scientific risk assessment framework for nanomaterials, and continues to work with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development to promote consistency with other jurisdictions.
The goal of this initiative is to identify the potential risks to human health and the environment that may be posed by nanomaterials in commerce in Canada.
Exploring new approach methodologies
Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada have been involved in a number of international initiatives, including case studies, to explore the utility of new approach methodologies in regulatory risk assessment.
To date, this has included contributing to a European Chemicals Agency workshop on new approach methodologies in April 2016, a United States Environmental Protection Agency workshop on accelerating the pace of chemical risk assessment in September 2016, and the development and advancement of case studies within the OECD Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment Case Studies Project in 2015 and 2016.
World-leading experts participated in the November 2016 CMP Science Committee deliberations on new approach methodologies for priority-setting under the CMP. The CMP Science Committee meeting report and meeting record will be released on the Chemical Substances website in 2017.
Non-domestic substances list clean-up update
Environment and Climate Change Canada has begun a review of substances on the Non-domestic Substances List to determine whether risk management controls have been developed for these substances in the United States.
Under a first review, 741 substances were identified as being subject to risk management controls in the United States. A Notice of Intent to delete these substances from the Non-domestic Substances List was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on June 18, 2016, for a 60-day comment period.
Comments received were taken into consideration in the development of the final order, which was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on March 4, 2017. This order deleted a total of 736 substances from the list. The remaining substances are planned to be removed from the Non-domestic Substances List in 2018.
In future, annual reviews will enable the government to identify substances that may potentially be of concern and to propose they be removed from the Non-domestic Substances List. Future amendments to the list will also be preceded by a Notice of Intent published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, for a 60-day public comment period.
International activities
Strategic approach to international chemicals management
Canada continues to work with its partners in the International Conference on Chemicals Management and is taking a leading role in the intersessional process.
The intersessional process was initiated at the Fourth Session of the Conference in September 2015, to prepare recommendations on the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020. The recommendations will be addressed at the Fifth Session of the Conference, scheduled for 2020.
The first of three intersessional meetings planned between now and 2020 was held February 7-9, 2017, in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia. The meeting brought together approximately 270 delegates, including 67 government representatives, 39 people from industry and non-governmental organizations and 16 from intergovernmental organizations.
The first item of the meeting concluded with the election of David Morin, Director General of the Safe Environments Directorate of Health Canada, and Leticia Reis Carvalho of Brazil's Environment Ministry, as co-chairs for the international process.
The meeting also addressed progress of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management since 2014, and considered an interim report on the independent evaluation currently underway.
Participants devoted the majority of their time and effort to an exchange of ideas regarding elements of a global platform to promote the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020, when the International Conference's original mandate will end.
Elements under discussion included vision and scope; governance; maintenance of the current voluntary, multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral approach; processes for responding to new and emerging issues; financing implications of implementation beyond 2020; linkages to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and integration of the concepts of sustainable chemistry and green chemistry into a post 2020 agenda.
A co-chair's summary will inform the development of the documents to be discussed at the next intersessional meeting, scheduled for March, 2018.
For information, contact Suzanne Leppinen.
Canada ratifies Minamata convention on mercury
On April 7, 2017, the Government of Canada ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global agreement to reduce anthropogenic mercury emissions and releases to the environment here and abroad.
The Convention, a legally binding treaty negotiated under the United Nations Environment Programme, addresses all aspects of the mercury lifecycle.
Canada will be one of the main beneficiaries of this agreement as over 95% of anthropogenic mercury deposited in Canada comes from foreign sources.
Conferences of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions
The meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions were held in Geneva April 24-May 5, 2017. Parties discussed issues related to the listing of chemicals and pesticides, guidelines for environmentally sound management of wastes, compliance, technical assistance and financial resources.
For information including outcomes and decisions taken, see the Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions webpage.
Canada and the United States: progress on two initiatives
Canada and the United States have made important progress on the work plan for the chemicals management project under the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council.
The project has two initiatives, one on chemicals risk assessment, and one focusing on regulatory reporting requirements for new uses of chemicals.
Under the risk assessment initiative, an assessment collaboration framework is under development.
This framework, to be completed by December, 2017, will be founded on principles common to both jurisdictions and will support increased collaboration and longer term increased alignment on risk assessments.
Under the initiative on Significant New Activity provisions/Significant New Use Rules, work focused on developing educational materials. This included a joint educational primer, a webinar series and a fact sheet for foreign suppliers.
A final report summarizing the work conducted under this initiative is expected to be published in the fall of 2017.
For information, contact ec.rcc-ccr_substances.ec.
Publications and notices
Recent publications
- Proposed order adding natural gas condensates to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 – February 18, 2017;
- Proposed order adding Disperse Yellow 3 to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 – April 1, 2017;
- Proposed order adding two liquefied petroleum gases to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 – April 1, 2017;
- Proposed order adding five methylenediphenyl diisocyanates to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 – June 17, 2017;
- Proposed Regulations Respecting Reduction in the Release of Volatile Organic Compounds (Petroleum Sector) were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I – May 27, 2017.
Recent risk management publications
- March 15, 2017: Pre-consultation document for PREPOD;
- Notice for the Code of Practice for the Environmentally Sound Management of End-of-Life Lamps Containing Mercury was published in the Canada Gazette, Part 1 – February 11, 2017.
Recent significant new activity publications
- January 14, 2017: Notice of Intent to amend the Domestic Substances List to amend the Significant New Activity provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, for 24 substances, and rescind these provisions for two substances;
- January 14, 2017: Notice of Intent concerning Significant New Activity Notice No. 13712a (variation to Significant New Activity Notice No. 13712);
- January 21, 2017: Notice of Intent to amend the Domestic Substances List to indicate the Significant New Activity provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, apply to the living organisms Aspergillus oryzae American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) No. 11866 and Pseudomonas putida ATCC No. 12633, ATCC No. 31483, ATCC No. 31800, and ATCC No. 700369;
- June 10, 2017: Notice of Intent to amend the Domestic Substances List to indicate the Significant New Activity provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 apply to the substances benzenamine, 4,4' methylenebis-, also known as 4,4'-MDA, Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry No. 101-77-9, and formaldehyde, polymer with benzenamine, also known as pMDA, CAS Registry No. 25214-70-4;
Coming publications
Science approach document
- Low hazard approach for human health.
Draft screening assessments and risk management scopes (when needed)
- Acrylates/methacrylates;
- Alkyl/aryl phosphites;
- Arenes;
- Benzophenone;
- Carboxylic acids;
- Chlorhexidine moiety;
- Cyanides;
- Eugenol and isoeugenol derivatives;
- Furans and derivatives;
- Heterocycles;
- Hydrogen sulfide, sodium bisulfide and sodium sulfide;
- Petroleum concise assessment;
- Petroleum Substances Addressed by Previous Assessments;
- Phenol, 2-(1-methylpropyl)-4,6-dinitro-;
- Phthalates;
- Poly(bios);
- Sector-specific inorganic UVCBs;
- Thiols;
- Thiocarbamates.
Final screening assessments and risk management approaches (when needed)
- Mitotane;
- BAPP;
- Sclareol;
- PSSA Stream 4 distillate aromatic extracts;
- PSSA Stream 4 asphalts;
- Selenium.
Coming significant new activity publications
- Summer 2017: Notice of Intent to amend the Domestic Substances List to indicate the Significant New Activity provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 apply to the substance benzenamine, 4,4’-[(1-methylethylidene)bis(4,1-phenyleneoxy)]bis-, also known as BAPP, Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 13080-86-9;
- Fall 2017: Order amending the Domestic Substances List to indicate the Significant New Activity provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, apply to 54 substances;
- Fall 2017: Notice of Intent to amend the Domestic Substances List to vary the requirements under the Significant New Activity provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, for ethanol, 2-(2-methoxyethyoxy), also known as DEGME, Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 111-77-3;
- Late 2017: Notice of Intent to amend the Domestic Substances List to vary the requirements under the Significant New Activity provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, for 16 substances;
- Late 2017: Notice of Intent to amend the Domestic Substances List to vary the requirements under the Significant New Activity provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, for 46 substances;
- Late 2017: Order amending the Domestic Substances List to indicate the Significant New Activity provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, apply to 19 substances and that the requirements under these provisions are varied for six substances.
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