OTTAWA, Ont. — February 29, 2012 — Canada's Environment Minister, the Honourable Peter Kent, today announced that the Government of Canada has decided siloxane D5 is not harmful to the environment.
“This decision follows a thorough analysis of the Siloxane D5 Board of Review’s report, all existing available scientific information, and on-going international regulatory activities,” said Minister Kent. “It underlines our commitment to reach fact-based conclusions to protect Canadians’ health and the environment.”
Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) is an odorless, colourless liquid found in a number of personal care products, including deodorants, antiperspirants, cosmetics, shampoos, and body lotions. It is used in the production of silicone polymers and may also be used as a dry-cleaning solvent and in industrial cleaning.
Minister Kent received the Siloxane D5 Board of Review’s report last fall. The Minister convened the Board of Review in August 2010 with the mandate to consider information in the original Government of Canada 2009 siloxane D5 screening assessment, as well as new scientific information subsequently available. Based on the information before it, the Board concluded that siloxane D5 is not harmful to the environment.
Siloxane D5 is one of the chemicals identified under Canada's Chemicals Management Plan. The Plan takes immediate action to regulate chemicals harmful to human health or the environment and aims to make Canada a world leader in assessing and regulating chemicals used in thousands of industrial and consumer products.
For more information, please contact:
Adam Sweet
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008
Environment Canada’s Twitter page: http://twitter.com/environmentca
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