Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF DECEMBER 17, 2018
Canadian Federal News
- CN Tariff 9000: Reduction in Free Car Time at Unloading
CN has announced a that effective Jan 1, 2019 the “2 credits” they allow for unloading a rail car before demurrage starts to apply will go to “1 credit” (one free day). We are sure that all our members are already aware of this plus the new higher demurrage charge outside of winter months.
RDC is a part of the Coalition of Rail Shippers (CRS) and through the CRS is asking that complaints to be submitted through the Freight Management Association (FMA) to the Canadian Transportation Agency regarding these changes. Unless you have already submitted your reaction directly to the FMA, you may also submit your complaints regarding the negative impact on your business to RDC and we will see that they are added to the FMA submission. Send comments to Jim Bird, Regional Director [email protected]
The Notice of Intent (NOI) is an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed amendments to the Domestic Substances List (DSL) to apply the Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) footnote 5 to the 14 substances listed in Table 1, pursuant to subsection 87(3) of that Act.
Within 60 days of publication of the NOI, any person may submit comments to the Minister of the Environment. These comments will be taken into consideration during the development of the Order amending the DSL to apply the SNAc provisions to the 14 substances listed in Table 1.
The Notice of Intent (NOI) is an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed amendment to the Domestic Substances List (DSL) to apply the Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) footnote 1 to the substance hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl-, calcium salt (also known as calcium 2-ethylhexanoate, Chemical Abstracts Service [CAS] Registry No. 136-51-6), pursuant to subsection 87(3) of that Act.
Within 60 days of publication of the NOI, any person may submit comments to the Minister of the Environment. These comments will be taken into consideration during the development of the Order amending the DSL to apply the SNAc provisions to this substance.
Schedule to the Precursor Control Regulations (PCR)
Expanding item 10 to include “and its derivatives, and analogues and salts of derivatives and analogues, including:
- methyl 3-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-methyloxirane-2-carboxylate (MMDMG)”
- Expanding item 13 to include “and its derivatives, and analogues and salts of derivatives and analogues, including:
- methyl 2-methyl-3-phenyloxirane-2-carboxylate (BMK methyl glycidate)
- 3-oxo-2-phenylbutanamide (α-phenylacetoacetamide-APAA)
- Expanding item 29 in Column 1 to include “and its derivatives, and analogues and salts of derivatives and analogues”
- Adding “Benzylfentanyl (N-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)-N-phenylpropionamide), its salts, derivatives, and analogues and salts of derivatives and analogues” as a new item in Column 1 and indicating “0” in Column 2
The publication of this notice in the Canada Gazette, Part I, initiates a 30-day comment period.
Updates are available for the 2-year rolling work plans for 2019-2020.
Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, with the support of PRA Inc., a contracted research firm, are currently conducting an evaluation of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP). This evaluation will assess the relevance and performance of the CMP, covering the period from 2014-15 to the present. The results of the evaluation will inform planning for a future federal chemicals management program.
In December 2018, the Bisphenol A Risk Management Approach: Performance Evaluation for BPA-Health Component was published.
This document outlines and measures the progress made towards meeting the human health risk management objective of minimizing infant exposure to BPA to the greatest extent practicable. The performance evaluation for BPA-ecological component is underway and will be published at a later date. Please refer to the two year rolling risk management activities and consultations schedule for information on timing, as it becomes available.
Targeted amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) are being made to permit the use of mica coated with titanium dioxide and/or iron oxide as colouring agents in drugs that are in solid or liquid dosage forms for oral administration and for drugs that are for external use. The colourant is currently allowed in foods and natural health products in Canada.
Electric and alternative fuel vehicles play a key role in Canada’s low-carbon future. As Canadians continue to make greener choices, our government is giving them more options to drive cleaner.
After an investigation led by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers, charges were laid and GFL Environmental Inc. pleaded guilty to two counts of contravening the Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 for selling tetrachloroethylene to owners or operators of dry-cleaning facilities that did not meet regulatory standards.
Canadian Provincial News
In November 2018, we began assigning nine-digit WorkSafeBC employer account numbers to employers who open a new account with us. The nine-digit numbers for new employer accounts allow our system to accommodate more employers. If you’re an employer who already has an account with us, your six-digit account number will not be affected or changed.
The Emergency Management Amendment Act is now in effect, providing communities with an easy reference as they develop and refine their emergency management plans and programs.
The Manitoba government has launched a new online Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course to teach youth the basics about workers’ and employers’ rights and responsibilities for safety and health in the workplace.
The Schedule amends the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009 to provide that the Act is repealed on December 31, 2021. The Schedule also revokes the regulations made under the Act as of the same day.
An employee’s hours of work may exceed the limit set out in clause (1) (b) if the employee has made an agreement with the employer that he or she will work up to a specified number of hours in a work week in excess of the limit and his or her hours of work in a work week do not exceed the number of hours specified in the agreement.
Bill 176 An Act to amend the Act respecting labour standards included a number of changes that come into force on January 1, 2019. These include pay equity and employment status; right to refuse work 2 hours beyond regular working hours; three weeks paid vacation after three consecutive years of service; two paid days off; and employers are required to adopt a psychological harassment prevention and compliant processing policy.
New legislation repeals that provision in stages, with the initial elimination of one unpaid day effective July 1, 2019 and the complete elimination of the unpaid waiting period by July 1, 2021.
International News
If you are an importer of chemicals or chemical products to Europe, you are responsible for the classification, labelling and packaging of the mixture you place on the market (i.e. mixtures you import into the EU/EEA or formulate for further supply) in accordance with the CLP Regulation. You need to be aware of the hazards of the mixture imported or formulated and you need to communicate them in your supply chain.
The project’s key finding was that while companies have systems in place to communicate safe use information down the supply chain, the quality of this information needs to improve significantly.
18 % of the companies were non-compliant with at least one of the duties covered by the enforcement project. In total, 296 infringements were reported and 665 enforcement measures were taken. 36 % of these measures were verbal advice, 33 % written advice, 16 % administrative orders and 4 % fines.
The Guidance Document on Good In Vitro Methods Practices (GIVIMP) provides guidance in order to reduce the uncertainties in cell and tissue-based in vitro method derived predictions by applying all necessary good scientific, technical and quality practices from method development to implementation for regulatory use. The document is targeted towards test method developers and test guideline users and provides best practices for designing guideline in vitro methods, carrying out safety tests and assuring quality and scientific integrity of the resulting data. The GIVIMP is intended to be an important resource that can help to avoid a scientific reproducibility crisis in in vitro toxicological sciences. This project was led by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre.
Other Relevant Information
Safety Share
Festive meals, flickering lights and holiday decorations are all hallmarks of the holiday season. However, Christmas trees, candles, electrical decorations, and cooking all contribute to an increased number of home fires during December, making it one of the leading months for U.S. home fires.
To help everyone enjoy a fire-safe holiday season, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is encouraging everyone to be aware of potential fire risks, and to take steps to minimize them.
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