Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 15, 2024
Most food importers are required to hold a valid Safe Food for Canadians licence (SFC licence) issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). On February 12, 2024, the CFIA will activate the automatic verification of SFC licences for imports of manufactured foods. Food import transactions will be automatically rejected and the shipment will be denied entry into Canada unless a valid SFC licence number is declared. Natural Products Canada is hosting a special webinar on considerations for Canadian businesses to protect intellectual property. The webninar is open to one and all and starts at 2:00 pm ET. (Food Allergy Canada) FACT: Yes, most people are allergic to one food, however there are many who have multiple food allergies. Studies suggest at least a third of people with food allergy are allergic to multiple foods. In some cases, people may be allergic to common groups of allergens such as peanuts and tree nuts. Evidence-based summaries for health professionals and consumers on specific vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements. Fact sheets cover health effects, safety, recommended amounts, interactions with medicines, and other topics. Key points about dietary supplements, including their effectiveness, safety, and quality. Provides resources with additional information on dietary supplements and tips for using dietary supplements wisely. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is a nonprofit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety officials and industry representatives. The Alliance aims to prevent commercial motor vehicle crashes, injuries and fatalities and believes that collaboration between government and industry improves road safety and saves lives. The information in this guide provides an overview of the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, 2001 (CCCR, 2001) set out under the CCPSA. The information in this guide is not intended to substitute for, supersede or limit the requirements under the CCPSA or the CCCR, 2001. This guide is prepared for convenience of reference only and as such, has no official sanction. In case of any discrepancy, the CCPSA or the CCCR, 2001 legislation will prevail. The draft assessment for the Substituted Phenols Group has been published. It is proposed to conclude that 4 substances, phenol, 4,4′-methylenebis[2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-, phenol, 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-, benzenepropanoic acid, 3-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) ester, and phenol, styrenated, may be harmful to the environment, and meet the criteria under paragraph 64(a) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). A risk management scope has been published concurrently to initiate discussions with stakeholders on the risk management options being considered. Stakeholders are requested to provide information to address data gaps to inform risk management decision-making by March 12, 2024. Health Canada’s Workplace Hazardous Materials Bureau (WHMB) attended the 45th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals from December 6-8, 2023. We wanted to inform you that the report from the 45th session (English only) is now available online.
A recent court case illustrates how a seemingly straightforward material handling task can lead to a serious workplace injury, a conviction, and a $50,000 fine for an employer for failing to take reasonable precautions to protect a worker, as required by the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA). The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) is conducting a Material Handling campaign to help reduce these risks. Running April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024, the initiative is focused on facilities or operations where large or bulky materials, articles or things are lifted, carried, or moved. Inspections of manufacturing and agricultural facilities are underway. It’s time to report your annual payroll (Form 100). The filing deadline is Feb. 29, 2024. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing that we have filed a food additive petition proposing that the food additive regulations be amended to remove four specified solvents. Benzene, Ethylene Dichloride, Methylene Chloride, and Trichloroethylene are the solvents of interest. Submit either electronic or written comments on the filing notice by March 11, 2024. (January 8, 2024) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Coordinated Outbreak Response & Evaluation (CORE) Network released its first annual report summarizing the investigations of foodborne outbreaks and adverse events in FDA-regulated human foods for the 2022 calendar year. (January 8, 2024) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the availability of SPL Xforms, a Structured Product Labeling (SPL) authoring tool for cosmetic product facility registration and cosmetic product listing mandated by the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA). The FDA also announced the availability of Form FDA 5066 and Form FDA 5067 as an additional submission tool for providing cosmetic product facility registration and cosmetic product listing information to FDA. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of a new document supporting the new chemicals program under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) titled “New Chemicals Program Decision Framework for Hazard Identification of Eye Irritation and Corrosion.” The document provides a decision framework for use by the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) New Chemicals Division (NCD) for identification of eye irritation or corrosion hazards for new chemical substances based on prioritization of reproducible, human-relevant data. The Framework supports EPA’s mandate under TSCA to promote the development and implementation of alternative test methods and strategies, or New Approach Methodologies NAMs), to reduce, refine or replace vertebrate animal testing and provide information of equivalent or better scientific quality and relevance for assessing risks of injury to health or the environment. On January 10, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule, effective March 11, 2024, revising the Department’s guidance on how to analyze who is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This final rule rescinds the Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act rule (2021 IC Rule), that was published on January 7, 2021 and replaces it with an analysis for determining employee or independent contractor status that is more consistent with the FLSA as interpreted by longstanding judicial precedent. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has published this notice to alter stakeholders that they are interested in developing a new methodology to determine when a motor carrier is not fit to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in or affecting interstate commerce (Safety Fitness Determinations, 88 FR59489 (Aug. 29, 2023)). Comments must be received by February 12, 2024. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposes amendments to its regulations governing the annual registration fees that participating States collect from motor carriers, motor private carriers of property, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan and Agreement for the 2025 registration year and subsequent registration years. The fees for the 2025 registration year would be increased above the fees for the 2024 registration year by an average of 25.0 percent overall, with varying increases between $9 and $9,000 per entity, depending on the applicable fee bracket. The proposal is based upon a recommendation from the UCR Plan. Comments must be received on or before February 8, 2024. (January 9, 2024) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the automatic addition of seven per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of chemicals covered by the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA is finalizing a significant new use rule (SNUR) for 329 per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are designated as inactive on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory. his final rule is effective March 11, 2024. European enforcement authorities, in cooperation with customs, are investigating if companies fulfil their REACH registration and authorisation obligations for chemical products they import from outside the EU and the obligations related to restricted chemicals in articles. Companies have withdrawn their interest in getting Pyrithione zinc (Zinc pyrithione) approved in the biocides Review Programme for use in: Notify the European Chemicals Agency by 21 December 2024 to keep this substance in the Review Programme. Safety Share Carbon monoxide (CO) is lighter than air and can move freely throughout your home or cottage at any time of the year. Breathing CO reduces your body’s ability to carry oxygen in your blood and can affect you before you notice its presence. Exposure to the gas can cause carbon monoxide poisoning (CO poisoning) and is dangerous to your health. Have an event you would like to share? Please send details to [email protected]. 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. 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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