Fifty-two substances with high hazard potential on the Domestic Substances List
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Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions
View the SNAc publications under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). Orders are subject to potential amendments under the SNAc Review.
Applying SNAc provisions
In May 2013, an order amending the Domestic Substances List (DSL) to apply the SNAc provisions of CEPA to 52 substances with high hazard potential was published:
For additional guidance on submitting information required as part of SNAc notifications, please see the Guidance document for the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers).
Varying the requirements under the SNAc provisions
In March 2026, an order amending the DSL to vary the requirements under the SNAc provisions of CEPA for 51 of the 52 substances was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 160, No. 6 – March 25, 2026. The amendments are an outcome of the SNAc Review.
Rescinding the requirements under the SNAc provisions
In July 2025, an order rescinding the requirements under the SNAc provisions of CEPA for CAS RN 1120-71-4 was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 159, No. 19 – September 10, 2025. This substance was subject to the SNAc provisions as a result of the 2013 assessment of 52 substances with high hazard potential on the DSL. Since then, a SNAc notification was received for the substance. The information was assessed by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada and no concerns were identified with the notified use or potential uses. That assessment led to the recommendation that the requirements under the SNAc provisions for this substances be rescinded.
Final screening assessment
In May 2013, the Final Screening Assessment for 52 Substances with High Hazard Potential on the Domestic Substances List was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 147, No. 22 – May 25, 2013.
The final screening assessment concluded that these 52 substances do not meet any of the criteria of section 64 of CEPA because the likelihood of exposure to these substances in Canada resulting from commercial activity is low, and hence, the potential risks to human health or the environment are considered to be low. However, because of their hazardous properties, an order to amend the DSL was published to indicate that the SNAc provisions have been used so that any new activity in relation to these substances will give rise to a risk assessment.
As a result of new information that was received after the publication of the draft screening assessment, thiophanate-methyl is no longer included in this assessment or the final order amending the DSL. Additional action may be taken on this substance at a later date following additional risk assessment.
Draft screening assessment
In July 2011, the Draft Screening Assessment for 53 Substances with High Hazard Potential on the Domestic Substances List was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 145 No. 27 – July 2, 2011 for a 60-day public comment period.
The draft screening assessment proposed to conclude that 53 substances do not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA.
Background
In 2006 and 2009, surveys were issued under section 71 of CEPA to update the DSL. The surveys revealed no reports of industrial activities (import or manufacture) above the reporting threshold for the 53 substances (15 substances covered in a survey released on March 4, 2006, and 38 substances covered in a survey released on October 3, 2009).
Since the publication of the draft screening assessment for 53 substances, 1 substance was removed following the receipt of additional information. The remaining 52 substances are deemed to be "not in commerce". Additional entry characterization was conducted to identify direct exposure potential to the general population in Canada. No information was found on current uses or releases of these substances in Canada.