Building on previous initiatives, the Chemicals Management Plan involves a risk-based
approach to evaluate chemicals used in Canada and take action on those that
are found to be harmful to human health and/or the environment…
June 2020 SPRAY 21
The templates for the consultation document, decision document
and orders used by Health Canada have been updated to
reflect the new provisions. However, the process and timelines
remain the same as before.
2020 Chemicals Management plan
The Chemicals Management Plan (CMP)2 is an initiative by the
Government of Canada that aims to reduce risks of chemicals to
Canadians and the environment. Building on previous initiatives,
the program involves a risk-based approach to evaluate chemicals
used in Canada and take action on those that are found to be
harmful to human health and/or the environment. The third
and final phase of CMP, which was launched in May 2016, will
address the remaining 1,550 chemicals out of the original 4,300
chemicals that were identified as priorities during categorization.
The current program is expected to conclude in March 2021 once
all priority chemicals have been assessed.
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999)
instructs that new substances manufactured or imported into
Canada above certain thresholds since 1994 must undergo
government-led human health and environmental assessment. For
substances found to have the potential to pose risks to the environment
or human health, control measures may be implemented
before they are permitted to enter the Canadian marketplace. If
the risks are exceptional, or it is determined that they cannot be
adequately managed, the substance may be prohibited in Canada.
Under the CMP, when a proposed draft screening assessment
report is released and the substance is found to pose risks to human
health and/or the environment, the Government of Canada
publishes a preliminary outline of the risk management options
under consideration for public comment. Interested stakeholders
are invited to submit comments and information that will help
inform decision-making as a more detailed risk management approach
is developed. The following sections describe draft assessments
recently published under the CMP for groups of priority
chemicals.
Canada publishes results after Screening
Assessment for 15 DSL-listed monoterpenes
In March 2020, Health Canada published draft screening assessments
for 15 priority acyclic, monocyclic and bicyclic monoterpenes3.
These substances include such commonly used fragrance
ingredients as alpha-pinene, pine oil and lemongrass oil.
It was determined that there is a low risk of harm to the environment
from all 15 of these substances. Five of the 15 substances
in the group (rose oil, mandarin oil, tangerine oil, turpentine
oil and turpentine) were determined to pose a risk to human
health at the current levels of exposure. Some of the remaining
substances are associated with health effects, but the risk to
Canadians is considered to be low at the current levels of exposure.
The 60-day public comment period for this draft screening assessment
ended on May 13, 2020.
Plastic pollution
Science Assessment draft published
Plastic has become a pervasive feature of modern society due to its
low cost and versatility. Environmental concerns about the slow
decomposition of discarded plastic have emerged as a result of its
composition of high molecular mass organic polymers. “Plastic
pollution” is abandoned or disposed of plastic that is found in the
environment outside of a waste management system.
In January 2020, the Government of Canada published a Draft
Science Assessment for plastic pollution to summarize the current
state of the science regarding the impacts of plastic pollution on
human health and the environment4. The Draft Assessment reviews
the available information on plastic pollution, including its
sources, occurrence and fate as well as potential effects on human
health and the environment. The intention of the assessment was
to guide future scientific and regulatory activities on the subject.
Various areas are recommended for further research in the assessment,
with an emphasis on advancing the understanding of the
effects of microplastics on human health and the environment.
The public comment period for the Draft Assessment ended
on May 1, 2020. Spray
1https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/h-2.7/index.html
2https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/
third-phase-chemicals-management-plan.html
3https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/
evaluating-existing-substances/draft-screening-assessment-terpeneterpenoids
acyclic-monocyclic-bicyclic-monoterpenes-group.html#toc85
4https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/
evaluating-existing-substances/draft-science-assessment-plastic-pollution.
html#toc73