Regulatory Cooperation Council chemicals management work plan: stream A - Significant New Activity provisions and Significant New Use Rules

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Health Canada (HC) and the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are collaborating in efforts to develop common approaches for regulatory reporting requirements for new uses of chemical substances [Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions in Canada and Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) in the U.S.]. The work plan also provides an opportunity to collaborate on efforts to improve the flow of information on chemical substances throughout the supply chain and develop consistent and effective approaches to compliance promotion for SNAcs and SNURs.

Work plan outcomes and supporting documents

Comparative Analysis of the Regulatory Frameworks for Significant New Activity Provisions (SNAcs) of CEPA 1999 and Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) under TSCA, March 2015

A comparative analysis of the regulatory frameworks for SNAcs under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) and SNURs under the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was conducted to identify opportunities for and potential challenges to alignment. The report identified differences in regulatory authorities for certain substances or uses of substances (occupational health and safety uses, uses regulated as foods and drugs and new organisms), as well as differences in exemptions, export notification requirements, and downstream notification requirements related to SNAcs and SNURs. Opportunities for improved alignment and future collaboration were identified in the areas of data and assessment sharing and SNAc/SNUR design. Finally, potential challenges to SNAc/SNUR alignment were identified, including the inability to share confidential business information (CBI), consultation and review timing differences, and lack of linkages between SNAc and SNUR databases and publications. This report is available upon request. Please contact:ec.ccrsubstances-rccsubstances.ec@canada.ca

Background document – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) and Health Canada/Environment Canada Significant New Activity (SNAc) Compliance throughout the Supply Chain, August 2015

The U.S. EPA, HC, and ECCC held 2 roundtable meetings in September 2015 (one in Washington, D.C., and one in Toronto, Ontario), convening stakeholders throughout the supply chain from the U.S. and Canada to engage in discussions on supply chain communication and implications on compliance with SNAcs and SNURs. This report provided background information for participants (including chemical manufacturers; chemical processors, formulators, retailers and users; entities that manufacture, distribute, or sell chemicals as part of products; and other interested stakeholders), and includes information on the current status of communication on chemicals in product supply chains; and mechanisms driving this communication, as well as a set of relevant case studies. This report is available upon request. Please contact: ec.ccrsubstances-rccsubstances.ec@canada.ca

Proceedings report – Stakeholder Roundtables - United States-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council: Supply Chain Communication and U.S. EPA's SNUR and EC/HC SNAc Programs, December 2015

A report reflecting the information exchanged at roundtable discussions on September 17, 2015 (Washington, D.C.), and September 22, 2015 (Toronto, Ontario), comprised of groups of stakeholders from government, private industry, non-governmental organizations, trade associations, and focusing on each country's respective regulatory framework for SNAc and SNUR requirements. Discussions focused on: best practices and challenges to SNUR/SNAc compliance; how regulators and stakeholders can increase efficiencies in the way compliance promotion is conducted; how regulators and stakeholders can help promote and enhance the sharing of information throughout the supply chain to facilitate tracking and compliance with SNURs/SNAcs; and whether chemical tracking information is or should be integrated with green procurement and sustainable facility plans. This report is available upon request. Please contact: ec.ccrsubstances-rccsubstances.ec@canada.ca

Educational primer – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) Programs and Environment and Climate Change Canada / Health Canada Significant New Activity (SNAc) Provisions, March 2018

An educational primer presenting key aspects and requirements important to understanding the SNUR program managed by U.S. EPA, and also the SNAc provisions managed by ECCC and HC. The primer was developed by the U.S. and Canadian governments with a technical working group, comprised of industry and other stakeholders, acting as an advisory body. The information is organized by jurisdiction, beginning with SNUR program information, and followed by SNAc provision details. Topics include: an overview of significant new uses/significant new activities; how individuals can determine if a SNUR/SNAc applies to their activities; where to find information about published SNURs/SNAcs, and notification requirements in the U.S. and Canada for SNURs/SNAcs.

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