Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999)

Existing substances risk assessment (RA):
Complete assessments for remaining priorities from categorization.

Approximately 330 substances remaining to be assessed.

These substances were identified as priorities under the CMP to be assessed.

List of substances to be assessed within the next 3 years to be published on Canada.ca - in Fall/Winter 2021-22; quarterly updates on timing of publications sent via email.

Identification of risk assessment priorities (IRAP) priority substances

Programs will conduct further scoping on substances and groups identified via past IRAP reviews.

Modernization of the IRAP process will continue to identify priorities related to emerging issues, such as cumulative RA and vulnerable populations.

As new information has emerged over time, departments have undertaken regular reviews and identified an additional 1200 existing substances for further scoping. Priorities identified via this process will feed into the new Ministers' plan for priorities.

Ministers' plan of oriorities must be published within 2 years of Royal Assent of the amended CEPA 1999.

Risk management (RM) of toxic substances:
Continuing implementation and administration of RM instruments developed through the CMP.

Continue to develop regulations and other RM instruments for CMP existing substances identified as toxic.

Schedule 1 orders: the number of substances added to the List of Toxic Substances to CEPA 1999 will be dependent on the conclusions of risk assessments.

The number of RM actions taken will be dependent on the conclusions of risk assessments. 

Ongoing implementation of RM instruments (developed under previous CMP phases).

Develop new RM instruments for additional substances identified as toxic.

 Addition to Schedule 1 to CEPA 1999 (List of Toxic Substances)

RM actions, including instruments respecting preventive or control actions (per section 92 of CEPA 1999), are applied to substances concluded as toxic, within the meaning of section 64 of CEPA 1999. 

Ongoing

Timelines for some RM actions are prescribed under CEPA 1999, and timelines for other RM actions are determined by the CMP’s comprehensive standard operating procedures and timeliness standards. For RM actions with CEPA 1999 time clocks:

The proposed RM action must be published within 24 months of publication of the substance’s assessment; and

The final RM action must be published within 18 months of the publication of the proposed action.

Performance measurement of RM actions
Implement the CMP performance measurement evaluation strategy. Performance measurement evaluations provide Canadians with information on the effectiveness of RM actions in place for substances found to be toxic under CEPA 1999.

Health Canada will undertake 1-2 performance evaluations per year.

To evaluate the effectiveness of RM measures and strategies and to determine whether such actions are reducing the use and release of harmful chemicals.

Performance measurement evaluations will demonstrate the progress RM strategies and tools have made toward meeting their individual objectives (environmental, human health, and risk management) and if changes are needed over time.

Ongoing

Information and updates will be made available on the Performance measurement for toxic substances web page:

Information gathering activities:
Conduct information gathering activities to support RA, RM and performance measurement.

Programs will continue to conduct voluntary and mandatory information gathering activities that support prioritization, RA, RM, and performance measurement.

Information on the import and manufacture of substances in Canada as well as their use patterns is used to inform prioritization,  RA activities, RM measures, and performance measurement. 

Information is generally gathered prior to the start of assessment. Further targeted information gathering may occur during the assessment process.  Information may be gathered to inform RM actions or performance measurement as required.

Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions
Apply and review the SNAc provisions on new and existing substances assessed under the CMP.

Varies by program needs: currently approximatley 420 substances are subject to the SNAc provisions.

The SNAc provisions of CEPA 1999 trigger an obligation for a person to provide the Government of Canada with information about a substance when proposing to use, import or manufacture the substance for a significant new activity. The government then assesses the substance for potential risks to human health and/or the environment.

Ongoing

New substances:
Assessment of new substances. RM of new substances when applicable.

Continue to conduct assessments for approximately 450 new substances.  Continue to impose RM measures to new sbustances when needed (15-25 per year).

New Substances Notifications are required for all new substances proposed for introduction into the Canadian marketplace as per the New Substances Notification Regulations (NSNR) under CEPA 1999.

Ongoing

Revised In Commerce List (R-ICL):
Assessment of substances identified on the R-ICL; an administrative list of substances contained in products regulated under the Food and Drugs Act (F&DA) that were in Canadian commerce between 1987 and 2001. 

Section 71 surveys on approximately 1400 R-ICL substances. Subsequent publication of Canada Gazette  (CG) notices to delist those found to have no commercial activity.  Publication of Pharmaceutical risk assessment summaries by batches - Groups 1, 2 and 3 (total of 40 substances).

Surveys necessary to determine commercial status and obtain information for risk assessment. CG notices to inform stakeholders of delisting of substances with no commercial activity. RA summaries are being published for greater transparency.

Ongoing

Domestic Substances List (DSL) nanomaterials:
Prioritisation of substances in commerce according to responses to the section 71 survey.

Screening assessment of high priority nanomaterials on the DSL.

Publish a draft Framework for the Risk Assessment of Manufactured Nanomaterials for a 60-day public comment period.

Continue gathering information on nanoscale substances on the DSL, including by publishing a new section 71 survey for nanoscale substances (expected in 2023).

Continue to conduct assessments, including for TiO2 and ZnO, between 2021 and 2024.

The nanoscale forms of substances listed on the DSL have not been explicitly considered in the risk assessments of existing substances to date. The Government of Canada is taking action to ensure that nanomaterials currently in commerce in Canada undergo ecological and human health risk assessments to ensure that appropriate control measures are taken, when required.

Ongoing

The framework is targeted for publication in Q4.

Monitoring:
Ongoing monitoring of substances in humans and the environment.

Varies by monitoring activities and program needs; up to 70 substances measured in human biomonitoring studies.

Monitoring provides essential information used to make sound and effective public health and environmental health policies and interventions, and helps to measure the effectiveness of Government actions to limit or reduce potential risks to humans and/or the environment.

Ongoing

Canadian Health Measures Survey cycles and annual review of environmental monitoring activities based on program priorities.

Research:
Research on effects, exposure, methods and tool development.

Varies by project and program needs.

Research is needed to better understand the exposure and effects of a variety of substances that were identified as priorities under the CMP, as well as to develop new tools to efficiently and effectively identify emerging concerns and assess and manage risks.

Ongoing

Compliance and enforcement

Varies depending on number of assessed and the resultant risk management outcomes.

Public Health Agency of Canada will continue the Travelling Public Program.

Compliance promotion and enforcement activities ensure that regulatees are aware, understand and comply with regulatory requirements.

Ongoing

Drinking water:
Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality and recreational qater quality

Approximately 10 guidelines to be developed per year.

Health Canada’s Drinking Water Program develops guidelines, tools, and advice for Canadian drinking water, recreational water, and water re-use. Work under this Program forms the basis for drinking water requirements in all provinces and territories and other government departments to safeguard water intended for human consumption.

Ongoing

Food and Drug Act (F&DA) and Food and Drug Regulations (FDR)

Environmental RA and RM of ingredients in drugs:
Amend the F&DA to enable the management of environmental risks from drugs.

Finalize the development of an environmental RA and RM regulatory framework under the FDR.

Development of a regulatory framework under the F&DA for the environmental RA and RM of drug ingredients.

Many ingredients in drugs are not being assessed for their potential environmental risks as they do not meet the notification triggers of the NSNR. An environmental RA and RM regulatory framework is in development under the FDR to better capture, assess, and manage potential environmental risks resulting from drugs, and bring Canada's regulatory regime more in line with international regulators.

Ongoing

Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCSPA) and
Cosmetic Regulations under the F&DA

Consumer products and cosmetics:
Continued surveillance of consumer products and cosmetics through analytical testing of levels of substances in these products.

Varies by project and program needs.

Levels of substances in these products currently on the market are required to inform RA, and to target appropriate RM actions.

Ongoing

Pest Control Products Act (PCPA)

Pesticides:
Initiate re-evaluations.

See Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) work plan

The PCPA requires a cyclical review (15 years) of all pesticides.

See PMRA workplan

Pesticides:
Re-evaluation of older chemicals.

See PMRA workplan

The PCPA requires that all pesticides registered prior to 1995 be re-evaluated.

See PMRA workplan

Pesticides:
Continue to monitor pesticide health and environmental incidents and take action as needed.

See PMRA workplan

Part of mandate under PCPA.  Incident reporting by registrants required by regulations under the PCPA.

See PMRA workplan

Pesticides:
Initiate special reviews.

See PMRA workplan

The PCPA requires the triggering of special reviews under certain circumstances.

See PMRA workplan