Canada | What is the Non-domestic Substances List?

The Canadian Non-Domestic Substances List (NDSL) is a list of substances that are not manufactured or imported in Canada, but are present in products that are imported into the country. These substances are considered "non-domestic" because they are not currently produced or used in Canada.

The NDSL was created to help Canadian businesses comply with the New Substances Notification Regulations (NSNR) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). The NSNR require companies to notify the Canadian government before they introduce a new substance into Canada, or before they use an existing substance in a new way.

If a substance is on the NDSL, it is considered "not new" under the NSNR, and companies do not need to submit a notification before importing products containing the substance. However, if a substance is not on the NDSL, companies must submit a notification to the Canadian government before importing products containing that substance.

It's important to note that the NDSL only applies to substances that are not manufactured or imported in Canada. Substances that are produced or used in Canada are subject to different regulations under the CEPA.