November 27, 2009
For immediate release
OTTAWA - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment, today announced the release of the final screening assessments for 14 of the 18 chemicals assessed in Batch 6 of the Chemicals Management Plan.
"Releasing the final assessments for Batch 6 means that we have now assessed over half of the high priority substances identified in the Challenge portion of the Chemicals Management Plan," said Minister Aglukkaq. "As we move past this important milestone we will continue to work with our partners in industry and in the NGO community so that Canada has the best approach possible to protect the health of Canadians and their environment."
"In 2006, the Government of Canada launched the Chemicals Management Plan to enhance its role in protecting Canadians and their environment," said Minister Prentice. "Today we see the results, with over half of the high priority substances assessed, we can be proud that Canada is at the forefront of global chemicals management."
Based on its carcinogenicity, one substance in Batch 6 poses a risk to human health (benzyl chloride) and none pose a risk to the environment.
Benzyl chloride is an industrial chemical found as an impurity in household and personal care products, disinfectants and industrial cleaners. It is also used in the production of benzyl alcohol and benzyl butyl phthalate. The general population's exposure to benzyl chloride is low and the Government is taking action so that exposure remains low.
Current information indicates that, at current levels of exposure, there are 13 other chemicals in Batch 6 which do not pose a risk to human health or the environment. Additional time is required to complete the health assessments for four chemicals in Batch 6, including: Disperse Orange 29, Solvent Red 23, Acid Red 111 and BPAOPB. The screening assessments and risk management approach documents, if applicable, for these chemicals, will be released at a later date.
Notices containing summaries of the final screening assessment reports will be published in Canada Gazette, Part I on November 28, 2009. The complete final screening assessments for 14 Batch 6 substances, as well as the risk management approach document for benzyl chloride, can be found on the Chemicals Management Plan website . Interested parties can submit comments on the risk management approach document until January 27, 2010.
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