March 5, 2010
For immediate release
FAQs on Batch 7 of the Chemicals Management Plan
OTTAWA - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment, today released the final screening assessment reports, and, where applicable, the proposed risk management approach documents for 14 substances assessed in Batch 7 of the Chemicals Management Plan.
"Canada continues to be at the forefront of chemicals management," said Minister Aglukkaq. "The publication of these latest assessment reports and proposed risk management approach documents underlines the Government's commitment to responsible management of chemicals and protecting the health and environment of Canadians."
"Since the Government of Canada launched the Chemicals Management Plan in 2006, we have made significant progress in managing chemical substances," said Minister Prentice. "We have collected information on the properties and uses of chemical substances that are potentially harmful to human health and the environment, and Canadians can rest assured that we will continue to take action to manage substances of concern."
Of the 14 substances assessed in this batch, three pose a risk to human health (Michler's ketone, n-butyl glycidyl ether,and 2-butanone oxime). Michler's ketone is primarily found in Canada as a residue in paper colourants; n -BGE is used as a diluent in epoxy resins which are then used to make coatings, adhesives, binders, sealants, fillers, electrical insulation and resins; and, 2-butanone oxime is used primarily to prevent film from forming in alkyd paints, primers, varnishes and stains.
The Government is recommending that the Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), be applied to nine of the remaining 11 substances. This provision requires that the Government is notified of any new import, manufacture, or use of these substances, and that human health and ecological risk assessments be completed prior to any new use. Two of the remaining 11 substances do not pose a risk to human health or the environment and no further action is recommended.
Notices containing summaries of the final screening assessment reports will be published in Canada Gazette, Part I, on March 6, 2010. The complete final screening assessment reports for all Batch 7 substances and the proposed risk management approach documents for the three Batch 7 substances of concern can be found on the Chemicals Management Plan website . Interested parties can submit comments on the proposed risk management approach documents until May 5, 2010.
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