Canada | An amended version of the Approach to disclose confidential information and promote transparency in chemicals management was published

Context: confidentiality and transparency under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999)

Transparency is important to build and maintain public confidence. The Government of Canada also has an obligation to protect confidential information. Under section 313 of CEPA 1999, any person who provides information to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change may request that this information be treated as confidential. This protects commercial interests by ensuring that confidential information is protected from public disclosure. The degree of protection given to such information is subject to sections 314-321 of CEPA 1999 and some provisions of the Access to Information Act (ATIA)

The approach: confidentiality and transparency in the Chemicals Management Plan

In October 2018, the Government of Canada updated and published the Approach to disclose confidential information and promote transparency in chemicals management. This approach seeks to balance transparency to support decisions in chemicals management with the right of stakeholders to protect confidential information.