Canada's approach on chemicals

In Canada, every order of government plays a part in protecting against risks from chemical substances: municipalities, the provinces and territories, and the federal government.

The Government of Canada makes regulations and develops guidelines and objectives that apply across the whole country. It also leads in conducting scientific research on human health and environmental issues, and makes agreements with other countries, so that our laws provide the same or better level of protection.

Use this section to find information on Canada's approach for assessing and managing chemical substances:

• Canada's system for addressing chemicals
• Federal laws and programs
• The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
• Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 – Section 75
• Categorization
• Information gathering
• Risk assessment
• Risk management

Related resources

• Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council Initiative on Chemicals Management
• Read about Canada's Chemicals Management Plan and its Implementation Table (2016 to 2021).
• The eChemPortal is an internet gateway, developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), that provides direct free access to information on the properties of chemicals as well as to hazard and risk assessments.
• This substances search tool provides the legislative status and program priorities for substances, such as chemicals, polymers and biotechnology organisms.