Substance prohibition summary for Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE)

Disclaimer

This information has been 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.

Context

Benzene, 1,1'-(1,2-ethanediyl)bis [2,3,4,5,6-pentabromo-Decabromodiphenyl ethane which has the molecular formula C₁₄H₄Br₁₀ (DBDPE), and products containing DBDPE are subject to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025 (PCTSR 2025) which will repeal and replace the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012 (PCTSR 2012) on June 30, 2026. These Regulations are made under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

Prohibition and exemptions under PCTSR 2012

DBDPE was not subject to the PCTSR 2012.

Prohibition and exemptions (authorized activities) under PCTSR 2025

The PCTSR 2025 prohibit, manufacture, use, sale and import of DBDPE, and products containing DBDPE. Once the PCTSR 2025 comes into force on June 30, 2026, the following authorized activities will be in effect:

• the import, manufacture, use, and sale of a product containing DBDPE, if DBDPE is incidentally present
• the use, sale and import of pellets or flakes of polymeric thermoplastic or thermosetting material into which DBDPE has been compounded for the manufacture of wire and cable products and heat shrink products until January 1, 2041
• the use, sale and import of pellets, flakes or blocks of rubber into which DBDPE has been compounded for the manufacture of rubber products until January 1, 2041
• the use, sale and import of pellets or flakes of high-density polyethylene into which DBDPE has been compounded for the manufacture of high-density polyethylene products until January 1, 2041
• the manufacture or import of manufactured items containing DBDPE until January 1, 2041
• the use, sale or import of replacement parts containing DBDPE that are manufactured items until the end of service life of the product or no later than January 1, 2056, for the following products:
  1. defence, aerospace, space and space products;
  2. land-based motor vehicles
  3. stationary industrial machines
  4. marine and garden products
  5. outdoor power equipment
  6. medical and in vitro diagnostic devices
  7. medical imaging and radiotherapy, devices and installations
  8. instruments for analysis, measurements, control, monitoring, test, production and inspection
• the ongoing use and sale of manufactured items that contain DBDPE
• the use and sale of all products containing DBDPE that were in use or in inventory up to the coming into force of the PCTSR 2025 (June 29, 2026, inclusively)

Further detail on the authorized activities for DBDPE may be found under Schedule 1 of the PCTSR 2025.

Permits

There are currently no permits available under the PCTSR 2012. Please note that once the PCTSR 2025 comes into force on June 30, 2026, permits will be available for certain substances and certain activities.

The PCTSR 2025 allows for permits to be issued for one year and renewed twice (for a total maximum of up to three years) to temporarily allow the continuation of eligible activities for certain products. The following activities and products containing DBDPE are eligible for permit application:

• the manufacture or import of the substance DBDPE
• the manufacture of pellets or flakes of polymeric thermoplastic or thermosetting material into which DBDPE has been compounded for the manufacture of wire and cable products and heat shrink products
• the manufacture of pellets, flakes or blocks of rubber into which DBDPE has been compounded for the manufacture of rubber products
• the manufacture of pellets or flakes of high-density polyethylene into which DBDPE has been compounded for the manufacture of high-density polyethylene products
• the manufacture or import of products other than those mentioned above containing DBDPE or those already authorized under Schedule 1 of the 2025 Regulations

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 PCTSR 2025 come into force) 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 can be found on the Information for Permit Applications or Renewal for the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025 webpage.

Exempted laboratory uses

The prohibitions under the PCTSR 2012 and PCTSR 2025 do not apply to listed toxic substances, or to any products containing them, that are to be used in a laboratory for analysis, in scientific research or as a laboratory analytical standard.

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.

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.

More information

More information can be found on the CEPA registry webpage for the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025.

Inquiries on the Regulations can be made by emailing interdiction-prohibition@ec.gc.ca or by phoning the Substances Management Information Line at:

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

Related links

• Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025: overview
• Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) - information sheet

Definitions

Incidental presence

Incidental presence is generally understood to be a residual, a trace contaminant or impurity that was not intentionally added to the formulation.

Manufactured item

A manufactured item is generally understood to be a product formed into a specific physical shape or design during its manufacture and that has, for its final use, a function or functions dependent in whole or in part on its shape or design.