Substances with pesticidal uses

Screening assessment of 19 substances on the Domestic Substances List associated with pesticidal uses

Fifteen of the 19 substances were determined to meet categorization criteria under subsection 73(1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), the other 4 having been assessed pursuant to paragraphs 68(b) and (c). For the screening assessment under CEPA 1999 of registered pesticides on the Domestic Substances List (DSL), the approach of Environment Canada and Health Canada was to conduct an entry characterization of the substances in Canada and then evaluate any non-pesticidal releases and sources.

Applying the Significant New Activity provisions

View the Significant New Activity Publications under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Orders are subject to potential amendments under the Significant New Activity (SNAc) Review.

The conclusion of the final screening assessment is that these substances are currently not entering, or likely to enter, the environment from applications not registered under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), and therefore that they do not meet the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA 1999.

Because these substances are recognized to have hazardous properties, there may be a concern for the environment or to human health if exposure to these substances from non-pesticidal applications was to increase. Therefore, the SNAc provisions of CEPA 1999 have been applied to these substances. This requires that the Government be notified of any proposed new activities related to these 19 substances.

• Order amending the DSL that applies to 19 substances: Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 155, No. 6—March 17, 2021.

For additional guidance on submitting information required as part of SNAc notifications, please see the Guidelines for the Notification and Testing of New Substances: Chemicals and Polymers.

Final screening assessment

In October 2016, the Final Screening Assessment of 19 Substances on the Domestic Substances List Associated with Pesticidal Uses was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 150, No. 42 – October 15, 2016.

All 19 substances have been registered as active ingredients in pest control products under the PCPA and have undergone an environmental and human health risk assessment by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency as part of their registration process.

This final screening assessment on the non-pesticidal uses of these 19 substances concluded that these substances are currently not entering, or likely to enter, the environment from applications not registered under the PCPA, and therefore none of these substances meet any of the criteria set out under section 64 of CEPA 1999.

Draft screening assessment

In June 2015, the Draft Screening Assessment of 19 Substances Associated with Pesticidal Uses was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 149, No. 23 – June 6, 2015 for a 60-day public comment period.

Comments and the Government's response relating to general themes on the draft screening assessment are provided in the summary of public comments received on the Draft Screening Assessment for 19 Substances on the Domestic Substances List Associated with Pesticidal Uses.

Screening assessment of the non-pesticidal uses of 6 substances on the Domestic Substances List

Trifluralin, atrazine, chlorothalonil, chlorophacinone, methoxychlor and pentachlorophenol are among 123 substances on the DSL that were selected for a DSL screening assessment pilot project. All 6 substances were determined to meet categorization criteria under subsection 73(1) of CEPA 1999.

For the screening assessment under CEPA 1999 of registered pesticides on the DSL, the approach of Environment Canada and Health Canada was to conduct an entry characterization of the substances in Canada and then evaluate any non-pesticidal releases and sources.

Applying the Significant New Activity provisions

View the Significant New Activity Publications under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Orders are subject to potential amendments under the Significant New Activity (SNAc) Review.

The conclusion of the final screening assessment is that trifluralin, atrazine, chlorothalonil, chlorophacinone, methoxychlor and pentachlorophenol are currently not entering, or likely to enter, the environment from applications not registered under the PCPA, and therefore that they do not meet the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA 1999.

Because these substances are recognized to have hazardous properties, there is concern that new activities could lead to the substances meeting the criteria set out in section 64 of the Act. Therefore the SNAc provisions of CEPA 1999 have been applied to these substances. This requires that the Government be notified of any proposed new activities related to these 6 substances.

• Order amending the DSL that applies to 6 substances: Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 143, No. 14 - August 19, 2009.

For additional guidance on submitting information required as part of SNAc notifications, please see the Guidelines for the Notification and Testing of New Substances: Chemicals and Polymers.

Varying the Significant New Activity provisions

In March 2021, an order amending the DSL to vary the SNAc requirements for trifluralin, atrazine, chlorothalonil, chlorophacinone, methoxychlor and pentachlorophenol was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 155, No. 6 – March 17, 2021. The amendments are an outcome of the SNAc Review. The purpose of the amendments is to ensure that SNAc orders and notices are consistent with current information, policies and approaches.

Final screening assessment

In August 2009, the Final Screening Assessment on Non-Pesticidal Uses of 6 Substances on the Domestic Substances List was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 143, No. 26 – August 8, 2009.

All 6 substances (trifluralin, atrazine, chlorothalonil, chlorophacinone, methoxychlor and pentachlorophenol) are registered or have been registered as active ingredients in pest control products under the PCPA and have undergone an environmental and human health risk assessment by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency as part of their registration process. All pesticidal uses of methoxychlor have been discontinued as of December 31, 2005, and this substance is no longer registered under the PCPA.

This final screening assessment on the non-pesticidal uses of these 6 substances concluded that these substances are currently not entering, or likely to enter, the environment from applications not registered under the PCPA, and therefore none of these substances meet any of the criteria set out under section 64 of CEPA 1999.

Draft screening assessment

In June 2007, the Draft Screening Assessment on Non-Pesticidal Uses of 6 Substances on the Domestic Substances List was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol 141, No. 25 – June 23, 2007 for a 60-day public comment period.

All information received during the public comment period was considered by Government officials in the preparation of the final screening assessment for these substances.