Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 7, 2023
This August, during Tree Check Month, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency calls on everyone in Canada to join forces and actively contribute to the protection of Canada’s plants and trees. Find out how you can participate and help fight back against invasive insects and diseases. Food Allergy Canada wants to know if you would attend an in-person food allergy conference. Please take the very short survey by August 18th to let them know – they want to hear from everyone, those who want to attend the events and those who do not. They want to ensure we are serving you as best as they can. The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $7.5 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to help eligible agri-food businesses and contributors enhance their biosecurity measures to support animal and plant health, and food safety. Applications for the Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative will be accepted as of September 19, 2023. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis, subject to funding availability. Canada is proposing to develop a Pollution Prevention Planning Notice (P2 Notice) for plastic packaging that comes into direct contact with food, also referred to as primary food plastic packaging. The P2 Notice would require Canada’s largest grocery retailers to prepare and implement a pollution prevention plan to meet targets to reduce, reuse, and redesign primary food plastic packaging, including recycled content targets. This builds on efforts and commitments by grocers and food brands to reduce plastic waste and shift away from single-use and difficult-to-recycle plastics toward a circular economy. The consultation ends August 30, 2023. Health Canada’s Food Directorate completed a premarket safety assessment of a food additive submission seeking authorization for the use of xylanase from Trichoderma reesei RF5427 in various foods. The requested maximum level of use for this food enzyme is Good Manufacturing Practice effective August 3, 2023. We would like to inform you that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has recently launched a 30-day consultation from August 4 – September 5 to inform potential amendments under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations (HPTR). PHAC is seeking input and advice from stakeholders and interested parties towards modernizing Canada’s biosafety and biosecurity oversight framework. The consultation page has all the information you need on how to participate, including a consultation guide and the link to the questionnaire. Health Canada’s consultation on improving access to drugs and other health products for people in Canada has been extended and will close on August 31, 2023. This is a final reminder to participate in this consultation and provide feedback on four key areas for action related to preventing shortages and better mitigating their impacts. This work is part of Health Canada’s ongoing commitment to enhance the multi-stakeholder response to drug and other health product shortages. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is reaching out to you on behalf of the Chemicals Management Plan to inform you of changes to the ECCC’s Single Window login process. For users logging in using the GCKey system, two-factor authentication became required as of July 31st, 2023. This is the first time we recall 2 orders being published for the same substance. The 3 MCs that were published last week are: The Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health (the ministers) assessed information on 11 substances (10 chemicals and polymers and 1 living organism) and determined that they meet the criteria for addition to the Domestic Substances List, as set out in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). Therefore, under the authority of sections 87 and 112 of CEPA, the Minister of the Environment (the Minister) is adding these 11 substances to the Domestic Substances List. The Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is responsible for pesticide regulation in Canada. The public registry is where you can learn more about all pest control products registered for use in Canada. 4 consulations were launched this past week, they are:
An Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) approval has been issued for Section 18(3) of the OHS Code, to permit an alternate method to adjust the occupational exposure limit (OEL) for respirable crystalline silica for work shifts longer than eight hours. This approval enables weekly work schedules to be considered when determining whether the OEL for respirable crystalline silica needs to be adjusted. Work site parties have the flexibility to follow the original rule in the OHS Code (where applicable) or to follow the approval. Commercial vehicle operators will have tools to support safer travel this summer, as mandated use of electronic logging devices (ELDs) will come into effect throughout the province on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) is seeking comments and feedback on two proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). MLITSD is requesting feedback/comments by Sept. 1, 2023 on the following: The FDA is hosting a free hybrid public meeting entitled “Modernizing Food and Drug Administration Recalls Listening Session” on September 29, 2023. This listening session provides an opportunity for stakeholders to share information and feedback about topics related to recall modernization, for FDA-regulated products. The FDA is inviting comments from all interested stakeholders and has identified the following examples of topic categories of the type of information the agency is interested in obtaining. Participants are encouraged to address these topics, or any other relevant topics related to recall modernization for FDA-regulated products. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published preliminary Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data about chemical waste management, including releases, and pollution prevention activities that occurred during 2022 at more than 20,000 industrial and federal facilities across the country. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 4-day virtual public meeting on September 12-15, 2023, from 10 a.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m. (EDT), via a webcast platform such as “Zoomgov.com” and audio teleconference for the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) to review EPA’s “2023 Draft Supplement to the 1,4-Dioxane Risk Evaluation” prepared under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Click the title for the schedule. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting public comments concerning the proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Standard. Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by October 2, 2023. he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), “Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plans (Renewal)” (EPA ICR Number 0328.19, OMB Control Number 2050-0021) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 31, 2023. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment is adopting revised cancer inhalation unit risk (IUR) and slope factors for cobalt and water-soluble cobalt compounds for use in the Air Toxics Hot Spots program for use in the Air Toxics Hot Spots Program. The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has selected vinyl acetate for the Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC)’s review for possible listing under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. Cryptography has been the subject of intense standardization efforts resulting in a range of International Standards that encapsulate the knowledge and best practice of leading experts in the field. Internationally agreed ways of working make technology more secure and interoperable. By using cryptography standards, developers can rely on common definitions, as well as proven methods and techniques. Safety Share “All about food allergy” is ideally suited for grades 4-6 although it can be easily adapted for other grades. The program teaches students about food allergy, what triggers anaphylaxis, how to be a good citizen and build inclusion, and much more! As the new school year approaches, be sure to share this information with your classroom or the educators you know. Have an event you would like to share? Please send details to [email protected]. ChemEdge 2023 is bringing supply chain professionals all along the chemical distribution industry together to share best practices and business solutions. Asian Chemicals Forum (ACF) will cover a wide range of topics related to safe chemical management. “Diving into the future“ is the future-oriented motto of this year’s Annual Congress of Fecc (= the European Association of Chemical Distributors), which will return to beautiful Sitges/Barcelone from Monday, 11 September 2023 afternoon to Wednesday, 13 September afternoon. There is no other health and safety event like this in Canada. Make a plan to join us for this two-day national event that will bring together leaders, change makers, and subject experts representing government, labour, and workplaces, to share their knowledge and experience around current and emerging health and safety issues. The World Food Forum officially unveiled its theme for 2023: “Agrifood systems transformation accelerates climate action” and launched its activities for the year culminating in a series of global events, competitions and actions taking place from 16-20 October at the Rome headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The International Baking Association (IBA) trade fair, a leading trade fair for the baking and confectionery industry set for Oct. 22-26 in Munich, will feature an area focused on innovative start-up businesses. The next European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Conference will take place on 28 February 2024 in Helsinki. As we are preparing the programme, we want to hear what would be the most important topics for you. So, fill in our short survey and help us shape a relevant and inspiring stakeholder event.Advocacy
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