In Commerce Sub-lists of Food and Drugs Act substances
Since September 2001, substances in products regulated under the Food and Drugs Act (F&DA) have been subject to the New Substances Notification Regulations (NSNR) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). Substances which were in products that were regulated under the F&DA and that were in Canadian commerce between January 1, 1987 and September 13, 2001 were placed on an administrative list, called the In Commerce List.
Substances found in pharmaceuticals, veterinary drugs, biologics and genetic therapies, cosmetics, medical devices and food additives were arranged into 4 sub-lists which are static administrative lists and will not change:
- Substances in Human Pharmaceuticals, Veterinary Drugs and Similar Products In Commerce Between 1987 and 2001 - CAS Registry Number Known
- Substances in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products In Commerce Between 1987 and 2001 - CAS Registry Number Known
- Substances in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products In Commerce Between 1987 and 2001 - CAS Registry Number Not Found
- Substances in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products In Commerce Between 1987 and 2001 - Ingredient or Mixture of Ingredients Unknown
Revised In Commerce List (R-ICL)
The In Commerce Sub-lists were compiled from Health Canada records, and while they have been a useful administrative tool, they contained duplications, omissions and inaccurate chemical identifiers. As such, Health Canada recognized the need to revise the In Commerce Sub-lists in order to address these issues. In September of 2010, a notice of intent to revise the In Commerce Sub-lists was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I.
The revision of the In Commerce Sub-lists was carried out through:
Phase 1: a substance identity verification program within Health Canada
Phase 2: a voluntary nomination process
The nomination process for including substances on the Revised In Commerce List (R-ICL) was completed February 14, 2012. Although the nomination process for the R-ICL ended, Health Canada continued to accept additional nominations up to November 3, 2019. As stated in the Final notice Termination of the Revised In Commerce Substances List nomination process, published in Canada Gazette, Part I, Health Canada will no longer accept nominations to the R-ICL. Manufacturers and importers who wish to market a new substance for use in F&DA regulated products in Canada that is not already listed on the R-ICL or the DSL must submit a notification under the NSNR (Chemicals and Polymers) or NSNR (Organisms).
Related Resources
- Chemicals Management Plan
- Domestic Substance List (DSL)
- Guidelines for the Notification and Testing of New Substances: Chemicals and Polymers
- Guidelines for the Notification and Testing of New Substances: Organisms
- New Substances Notifications Regulations (NSNR) (Chemicals and Polymers)
- New Substances Notification Regulations (Organisms)
- Health Canada program areas:
Contact information
Environmental Assessment Unit 1
Health Canada
Mail stop PL 4905B
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9
Telephone: 1-866-996-9913 (in Canada) or 613-948-3591
Fax: 613-952-5354
E-mail: hc.eau-uee.sc@canada.ca
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