Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025: overview

The Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025 (the 2025 Regulations) prohibit the manufacture, use, sale, and import of certain toxic substances, and products containing them, with a limited number of exemptions.

Disclaimer

This information was prepared for convenience of reference only and is not to be understood as a legal document. This information does not supersede or modify any act, regulations or legal obligation, including an obligation to comply under any instruments referred to under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

On this page

• Scope
• Substances subject to the 2025 Regulations
• Prohibition and authorized activities under the 2025 Regulations
• Exemptions that apply to all prohibited substances
• Compliance with these Regulations
• Information for importers
• Recycling and Disposal of toxic substances listed to these Regulations
• Aqueous film-forming foam used in fire-fighting
• Laboratory testing requirements
• Information for laboratories and their suppliers
• Record keeping
• Permits
• Related links
• Contact us

Scope

The substances prohibited by these Regulations are some of the most harmful. They were declared toxic to the environment and/or human health under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), and are persistent and bioaccumulative.

Since their creation in 1996, these Regulations have been amended multiple times to add or remove substances, or to remove exemptions. They include:

• substances that have been prohibited for many years, preventing their re-introduction into commerce
• substances that have been recently prohibited, some with exemptions to accommodate critical uses that could not immediately be phased out

The Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012 (2012 Regulations) will be repealed and replaced by the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025 (2025 Regulations) when the 2025 Regulations come into force on June 30, 2026. Both these Regulations are made under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

In addition, the 2025 Regulations would simplify the current Regulations by consolidating substance-specific requirements.

Both these Regulations are the main tools to implement Canada’s obligations for industrial chemicals under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Substances subject to the 2025 Regulations

These Regulations only apply to certain toxic substances included on Schedule 1 of CEPA.

• 1,4:7,10-Dimethanodibenzo[a,e]cyclooctene, 1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10,13,13,14,14-dodecachloro-1,4,4a,5,6,6a,7,10,10a,11,12,12a-dodecahydro which has the molecular formula C₁₈H₁₂Cl₁₂ (DP)
  • DP will be subject to the Regulations once the 2025 Regulations comes into force on June 30, 2026.
• Benzene, 1,1'-(1,2-ethanediyl)bis [2,3,4,5,6-pentabromo-Decabromodiphenyl ethane which has the molecular formula C₁₄H₄Br₁₀ (DBDPE)
  • DBDPE will be subject to the Regulations once the 2025 Regulations comes into force on June 30, 2026.
• Certain groups of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS):
  • Perfluorooctanoic acid, which has the molecular formula C₇F₁₅CO₂H (PFOA) and its salts
  • Compounds that consist of a perfluorinated alkyl group that has the molecular formula C_nF_2n+1 in which n = 7 or 8 and that is directly bonded to any chemical moiety other than a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom (PFOA precursors)
  • Perfluorocarboxylic acids that have the molecular formula C_nF_2n+1CO₂H in which 8 ≤ n ≤ 20 (LC-PFCAs) and their salts
  • Compounds that consist of a perfluorinated alkyl group that has the molecular formula C_nF_2n+1 in which 8 ≤ n ≤ 20 and that is directly bonded to any chemical moiety other than a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom (LC-PFCA precursors), including 4 fluorotelomer-based substances
  • Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and its salts
  • Compounds that contain one of the following groups: C₈F₁₇SO₂, C₈F₁₇SO₃ or C₈F₁₇SO₂N (PFOS precursors)
• Hexabromocyclododecane, which has the molecular formula C₁₂H₁₈Br₆ (HBCD)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers that have the molecular formula C₁₂H_(10-n)Br_nO in which 4 ≤ n ≤ 10 (PBDEs)
• Chlorinated alkanes, that have the molecular formula C_nH_xCl_(2n+2-x) in which 10 ≤ n ≤ 13 (short-chain chlorinated alkanes)
• Tributyltins, which contain the grouping (C₄H₉)₃Sn (TBTs)
• Polychlorinated naphthalenes, which have the molecular formula C₁₀H_8-nCl_n in which “n” is greater than 1 (PCNs)
• 2-Methoxyethanol, which has the molecular formula C₃H₈O₂ (2-ME)
• Pentachlorobenzene, which has the molecular formula C₆HCl₅ (PeCB)
• Tetrachlorobenzenes, which have the molecular formula C₆H₂Cl₄ (TeCB)
• Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, which has the molecular formula C₁₄H₉Cl₅ (DDT)
• Hexachlorobutadiene, which has the molecular formula C₄Cl₆ (HCBD)
• N-Nitrosodimethylamine, which has the molecular formula C₂H₆N₂O (NDMA)
• Benzidine and benzidine dihydrochloride, which have the molecular formula C₁₂H₁₂N₂ and C₁₂H₁₂N₂•2HCl, respectively
• Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
• (4-Chlorophenyl)cyclopropylmethanone, O-[(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]oxime that has the molecular formula C₁₇H₁₅ClN₂O₃ (NCC ether)
• Chloromethyl methyl ether that has the molecular formula C₂H₅ClO (CMME)
• Bis(chloromethyl) ether that has the molecular formula C₂H₄Cl₂O (BCME)
• Polychlorinated terphenyls that have a molecular formula C₁₈H_(14-n)Cl_n in which "n" is greater than 2 (PCT)
• Polybrominated biphenyls that have the molecular formula C₁₂H_(10-n)Br_n in which "n" is greater than 2 (PBB)
• Dodecachloropentacyclo [5.3.0.0^2,6.0^3,9.0^4,8] decane (Mirex)

These substances are listed on the Substances Search Tool and are associated with a non-exhaustive number of Chemical Abstracts Service registry numbers (CAS RNs) that are known to represent them. If a substance meets the definition in the Regulations, the Regulations apply whether the specific CAS RN is listed in the Substances Search Tool or not.

Prohibition and authorized activities under the 2025 Regulations

When the 2025 Regulations come into force on June 30, 2026, they will remove certain exemptions or limit specific activities which were allowed under the 2012 Regulations. They will further restrict the manufacture, use, sale and import of the following substances and products containing them:

• PFOS
• PFOA
• LC-PFCAs
• HBCD
• PBDEs

The 2025 Regulations will include a limited number of general and substance-specific exemptions (authorized activities) set out in Schedule 1.

More information on the substance-specific authorized activities is available in the 2025 Regulations and through the prohibition summaries for the following substances:

• Perfluorooctane sulfonate, salts and precursors (PFOS)
• Perfluorooctanoic acid, its salts, and its precursors (PFOA)
• Perfluorocarboxylic acids their salts, and their precursors (LC-PFCAs)
• Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)
• Déchlorane Plus (DP)
• Décabromodiphényléthane (DBDPE)

Exemptions that apply to all prohibited substances

These Regulations do not apply to certain products or activities, regardless of the substance involved.

• incidental presence
  • for the purpose of these Regulations, incidental presence is generally understood to be a residual, trace contaminant or impurity that was not intentionally added to the formulation.
  • The 2025 Regulations include concentration thresholds for HBCD, PBDEs and PFOS (in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF)) at or below which their presence would be considered incidental, and the prohibition would not apply
    • These concentration thresholds can be found in Schedule 3 of the 2025 Regulations
• laboratory use
• hazardous waste, hazardous recyclable material or non-hazardous waste to which Division 8 of Part 7 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 applies
• pest control products
• non-emissive or destructive uses of chemical feedstock

Compliance with these Regulations

You are responsible to comply with all aspects of these Regulations. Each person is best placed to determine how these Regulations may affect their activities. The measures you take to ensure you comply will vary according to your activities.

Some measures you may take include:

• checking with your supply chain
• familiarizing yourself with the substances that are listed in these Regulations
• reviewing manufacturing formulations, engineering specifications, safety data sheets and other available documentation
• asking your suppliers for certification that the products are not made with prohibited substances
• if you import substances or products in which the presence of a prohibited substance has been detected, verifying with your suppliers whether the presence is incidental or if a specific exemption applies, and maintaining records
• specifying the absence of prohibited substances in your contracting documents
• having your substances or products periodically tested
• maintaining records that demonstrate your efforts to comply with these Regulations

These actions are not requirements of the Regulations; they are provided as examples for guidance purposes only.

CEPA and all its regulations are enforced in accordance with the Compliance and Enforcement Policy for CEPA.

Information for importers

Importers will need to comply with all relevant requirements of these Regulations when they come into force on June 30, 2026. Depending on the substance, prohibited items can include:

• consumer products
• industrial products
• intermediary articles used in manufacturing
• chemical or recycled material feedstock

Substances and/or products containing them that are prohibited in Canada may still be legally manufactured or used in other countries. Importers must therefore take the necessary precautions to avoid imports that may lead to accidental regulatory violations.

Below are some examples of imported products that may be more likely to contain prohibited substances, due to their ongoing use in other countries. However, these are only examples. Other substances that are prohibited by these Regulations may also be found in imported products. As an importer, it is your responsibility to ensure that your products comply with these Regulations.

Prohibited products that may be at higher risk of being imported due to the ongoing use in other countries

In addition, note that certain substances subject to these Regulations are also listed on the Export Control List (Schedule 3 of CEPA). Their export is controlled by the Export of Substances on the Export Control List Regulations, whether or not they are contained in a product.

Recycling and disposal of toxic substances listed to these Regulations

Manufacturing a product using a recyclable material that contains a substance listed to the 2025 and 2012 Regulations is prohibited. The Regulations also prohibit using, selling, or importing a recycled product that contains a listed substance. These activities are not prohibited if the substance is incidentally present, or another exemption applies.

Substances listed under these Regulations, and products containing them, should be disposed of at an authorized hazardous waste management facility. Alternatively, they should be disposed in another environmentally sound manner.

More information on the recycling and disposal of toxic substances listed to these Regulations can be found on the Recycling and Disposal of toxic substances listed to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations webpage.

Aqueous film-forming foam used in firefighting

Aqueous film-forming foam, better known as AFFF, is a synthetic firefighting foam. It contains hydrocarbon-based surfactants and fluorinated surfactants that rapidly extinguish hydrocarbon fuel fires. It is mainly used by:

• municipal fire services
• civil and military aviation industries
• chemical and oil industries

The following PFAS may be used as fluorinated surfactants in AFFF:

• PFOS, its salts, and precursors
• PFOA, its salts, and precursors
• LC-PFCAs, their salts, and precursors

In Canada, regulations have restricted PFOS since 2008, and PFOA and LC-PFCAs since 2016. Exemptions were included to accommodate the transition to alternatives and the residual levels of these substances left over in fire-fighting equipment from their prior use.

The 2025 Regulations will further restrict the use, sale and import of PFOS, PFOA and LC-PFCAs, and products containing them, with a limited number of time-limited exemptions for critical uses of AFFF.

More information on AFFF used in firefighting as well as exemptions for these products under these Regulations, and additional proposed risk management, can be found on the Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and aqueous film-forming foam used in firefighting webpage.

Laboratory testing requirements

Any laboratory testing performed for these Regulations, such as for compliance with the Regulations, must be carried out by a laboratory accredited under the standard ISO/IEC 17025 or under the Environment Quality Act, CQLR, c. Q-2. The laboratory must meet the following conditions at the time that the analysis is performed to determine the concentration of the toxic substance:

• if there is a method recognized by a standards development organization, the analysis must be included in the scope of the laboratory's accreditation, or
• if no method has been recognized by a standards development organization, the analysis must be performed in accordance with standards of good scientific practice that are generally accepted.

For more details, refer to section 11 of the 2025 Regulations.

Information for laboratories and their suppliers

These Regulations do not apply to toxic substances or to any products containing them that are to be used:

• in a laboratory for analysis
• in scientific research
• as a laboratory analytical standard

However, all exempted laboratory users have reporting requirements if they are using more than 10 g of any toxic substances in a calendar year. The report(s) must clearly provide the information required, including:

• each proposed or actual use
• the anticipated period of use
• the quantities to be used per calendar year (January 1st to December 31st)

A report must be submitted for every calendar year for the use or anticipated use of toxic substances.

How to submit a laboratory and research use report through the Regulatory Services Platform

Users of any listed toxic substance, or product containing it, for the above purposes are required to report the information set out in the Regulations using ECCC's Regulatory Services Platform before the use of more than 10 grams of each substance each calendar year. before the use of more than 10 grams of each substance each calendar year.

Further details relating to exempted laboratory uses and instructions on how to report can be found on the Information for laboratories using certain toxic substances webpage.

For more details, refer to section 3 of the 2025 Regulations.

Record keeping

It is mandatory to keep records of all information submitted under these Regulations in Canada for a minimum of five years. For more details, refer to section 13 of the 2025 Regulations.

Permits

Where specific exemptions have not been provided, the Regulations allow for permits to be issued for one year and renewed twice (for a total maximum of up to three years). Permits temporarily allow the continued manufacture or import of DP or DBDPE, or products containing these substances, the import of certain products containing PFOA or LC-PFCAs, and the manufacture or import of certain products containing HBCD or decaBDE.

In order for a permit to be issued, the following conditions must be met:

• there must be no technically or economically feasible alternatives available
• the applicant must have taken measures to minimize any harmful effect of the substance on the environment and human health
• the applicant must have prepared a plan identifying measures taken to comply with these Regulations within a maximum of up to three years

The Regulations set out that the conditions under which a permit is granted must be maintained throughout the duration of the permit.

How to submit a permit application through the Regulatory Services Platform

Permit applications must be submitted during the permit application period between July 1, 2026, and July 30, 2026 (30 days after the day the 2025 Regulations come into force) using ECCC's Regulatory Services Platform using ECCC's Regulatory Services Platform.

On the platform, users will be able to:

• Create an account
• Submit permit applications

More information relating to permits is available on the Information for Information for permit applications or renewal for the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025 webpage.

Related links

• Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025
• Notices of objection
• Risk management of chemical substances in Canada
• List of toxic substances (Schedule 1 of CEPA)
• Substances search
• Compliance and Enforcement Policy for CEPA
• Summary of flame retardant assessments and management conducted under CEPA
• Provincial, territorial, and international contacts
• Persistent organic pollutants: Stockholm Convention
• Export of Substances on the Export Control List Regulations

Contact us

Chemicals Management Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St. Joseph Blvd, 10th floor
Gatineau QC  K1A 0H3

Email: interdiction-prohibition@ec.gc.ca

Substances Management Information Line:

• 1-800-567-1999 (Toll Free in Canada)
• 1-819-938-3232 (Outside of Canada)

Write to us at the email above if you would like to be added to the Regulations distribution list.