Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 19, 2024
Since June 13, 2022, the Official Meat Inspection Certificates (OMIC) for meat and poultry products imported from United States are generated through the Public Health Information System (PHIS). Certificates are digitally signed in PHIS, containing the watermark: “Approved Certificate – Available for Validation in PHIS”. The printed version of the OMIC must accompany the meat products shipment and an electronic copy must be presented to the National Import Service Centre (NISC) before the importation. To prevent the transaction from being refused when submitting paper documentation to NISC, the watermark must be legible on the electronic copy of the OMIC submitted. Any OMIC presented to NISC without a legible watermark will be denied entry into Canada. A Private Members Bill underwent First Reading on February 12, 2024. This enactment amends the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 to delete plastic manufactured items from the list of toxic substances in Schedule 1 to that Act. We will report on the progress of this Bill. There are several reasons why ground beef may remain pink at temperatures above 160 °F. This phenomenon is primarily associated with the pH and the level of pigment in the meat, as well as the fat content. Normal fresh muscle has a pH ranging from 5.3 to 5.7. When thoroughly cooked, the myoglobin, oxymyoglobin, and metmyoglobin pigments of normal meat are converted (i.e. denatured) to denatured hemichrome, the grey pigment of cooked meat. Meat with a pH of 6.0 or higher can remain pink at 159.8 °F. The rate at which normal muscle pigments change to form the grey denatured hemichrome is affected by pH. The higher the pH, the longer the cooking time and/or higher the final internal temperature required for denaturation to be complete (Mendenhall, 1989). A high pH reduces the amount of myoglobin denatured by cooking, resulting in a pink color rather than the expected grey cooked color created by denatured hemichrome (Trout, 1989). This session will uncover how to effectively conduct a Hazard Assessment. Beginning with an introduction to the RACE (Recognize, Assess, Control and Evaluate) concept, followed by defining the six hazard categories (Biological, Chemical, MSD, Physical, Psychosocial and Safety) and finishing with how to prioritize risk. Unregistered insecticides such as “Sniper 1000EC DDVP,” “Lava 100% EC” and “NOPEST”. These contain the insecticide dichlorvos at levels that pose a significant risk to human health. You must use physical or other effective means to separate food from anything that presents a risk of contamination to the food, including any food that does not meet the requirements of the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations. This will include but not be limited to cleaning agents, other chemicals, and all other non-food products. The organic equivalency arrangement has been extended for another 3 years. The scope of the arrangement remains the same. In order to allow importation of processed casings from the United States (U.S.), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has negotiated an interim procedure with the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). This interim procedure consists of issuing a letter of guarantee (LoG) for each shipment. This LoG will be issued by the establishment where final processing step was conducted and provided to the FSIS prior to the issuance of the Official Meat Inspection Certificate (OMIC- FSIS form 9060-07 or 9060-18). This guideline technical document was prepared in collaboration with the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water. A maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) of 0.006 mg/L (6 μg/L) is established for total antimony in drinking water. The Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health (the ministers) assessed information on 20 substances (11 chemicals and polymers and 9 living organisms) 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 20 substances to the Domestic Substances List.
The company was fined for contravening clause 3-1 (a) of the regulations (being an employer at a place of employment, fail to provide and maintain plant, systems of work and working environments that ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of the employers workers, resulting in the serious injury of a worker). Introducing First Job, Safe Job – a new blog designed to support parents and caregivers in their quest to keep the young workers in their lives safe on the job. The Ontario government is keeping costs down for drivers by introducing legislation that would, if passed, ban tolls on provincial highways. This ban would apply to the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway once uploaded to the province, as well as the province’s 400-series highways. The province is also proposing to save drivers time by automating the licence plate renewal process starting this summer, saving vehicle owners more than 900,000 hours each year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the submission deadline for the annual electronic reporting required under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for polymers manufactured under the terms of the polymer exemption for new chemicals to March 31, 2024. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the list of 10 scientific experts selected to review the 2023 Draft Risk Evaluation for Tris(2-chloroethyl) Phosphate (TCEP) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PETA Science Consortium International (PSCI), Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) and California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 11 a.m. EST for a webinar on the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs), or alternative methods to testing on vertebrate animals for chemical risk assessments. Diethylmethylbenzenediamine (EC 270-877-4, CAS 68479-98-1) was added to the Community rolling action plan (CoRAP) list in 2016 and evaluated by Denmark. The European Chemicals Agency (ECH) has launched consultations on four applications for authorisation and six review reports covering 13 uses. More information about the uses applied for is available online. Have your say through an online webform until 10 April 2024. Safety Share The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck is scheduled for May 14-16. International Roadcheck is a high-visibility, high-volume commercial motor vehicle inspection and regulatory compliance enforcement initiative that takes place over three days in Canada, Mexico and the United States. This year’s International Roadcheck will serve as a reminder to motor carriers to establish and strictly enforce clear policies to prevent controlled substance and alcohol possession or use in the workplace. Portable electric or space heaters are in the top ten causes of fires reported to Health Canada. Here are a few tips to prevent a house fire from your space heater: Have an event you would like to share? Please send details to [email protected]. Businesses needed to re-evaluate health and safety protocols and the importance of continuing to educate workers and address issues that are relevant to today’s workforce remains a priority. Some of the biggest challenges faced include supply chain disruptions, resource limitations, staff shortages/high turnover, and supporting a psychologically safe workplace. 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. The 2024 SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo will take place March 10–14, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit the 2024 website to view upcoming deadlines. Weaving together technical application presentations with case studies and project overviews, ensure your seat at the table for this important plant operations conference! Plan to attend Canada’s premier environmental event, as it returns to a fully in-person format that is designed to meet your compliance needs, and connect you to experts and peers. The Baking Association of Canada’s national baking industry event will feature a bustling trade show and conference, inspirational speakers, education sessions, competitions and demonstrations and countless opportunities to network and benefit your business. Collaborate and network with thousands of your colleagues, experts from several industries, and NFPA staff on life, fire, and electrical safety innovation at the 2024 NFPA Conference & Expo.Advocacy
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