Substance prohibition summary for Perfluorooctane Sulfonate, its salts and precursors (PFOS)
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 (CEPA).
Context
Perfluorooctane sulfonate and its salts and compounds that contain one of the following groups: C8F17SO2, C8F17SO3 or C8F17SO2N (PFOS) and products containing PFOS are subject to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012 (PCTSR 2012). The PCTSR 2012 will be repealed and replaced by the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025 (PCTSR 2025) when the PCTSR 2025 come into force on June 30, 2026. These Regulations are made under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
Prohibition and exemptions under PCTSR 2012
The PCTSR 2012 will be in force until June 30, 2026. The PCTSR 2012 prohibits the import, manufacture, use, sale and offer for sale of PFOS, and products containing PFOS, with the following exemptions:
- the import, manufacture, use, sale and offer for sale of a product containing PFOS, if PFOS is incidentally present
- the import, manufacture, use, sale and offer for sale of PFOS or a product containing it if it is designed for use in photoresists or anti-reflective coatings for photolithography process or photographic films, papers and printing plates
- the use and import of PFOS in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) present in a military vessel or military fire-fighting vehicle contaminated during a foreign military operation
- the use of PFOS in AFFF at a concentration less than or equal to 10 ppm
- the use, sale or offer for sale of manufactured items containing PFOS if they were manufactured or imported before May 29, 2008
Prohibition and exemptions (authorized activities) under PCTSR 2025
The PCTSR 2025 further restricts PFOS activities in Canada. Once the PCTSR 2025 comes into force on June 30, 2026, the following changes to authorized activities will be in effect:
- the exemption allowing the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale and import of PFOS, or a product containing PFOS, designed for use in photoresists or anti-reflective coatings for photolithography process or photographic films, papers and printing plates will be repealed
- the exemption allowing the use of AFFF containing PFOS in a concentration at or below 10 ppm will be replaced with an equivalent exemption for the incidental presence of PFOS in AFFF at a total concentration less than or equal to 10 mg/kg (0.001% w/w)
Further detail on the authorized activities for PFOS may be found under Schedule 1 of the PCTSR 2025.
Permits
The PCTSR 2012 and PCTSR 2025 do not allow for permits for PFOS.
Exempted laboratory uses
The prohibition 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
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.
For 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
- Toxic substances list: perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), its salts and precursors
- Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025: overview
- Export of Substances on the Export Control List Regulations
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.