Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 17, 2022
The long-awaited third phase of the FAO/WHO expert panel on food allergens has just published its recommendations regarding precautionary statements on food packages. As Health Canada has recommended for many years, precautionary labels should never replace good manufacturing practices and should be reserved for unavoidable cross-contact situations. What is new is the recognition for the value of thresholds – in other words, if a manufacturer is confident through evidence that the allergen may be present BUT is below the established thresholds, precautionary statements are not required. Food allergic Canadians are keen to have as much choice as possible for access to safe foods, and by using precautionary statements only when there is a genuine risk of harm, this objective will be achieved. Our colleagues at FPSC have developed and will be delivering to Ontario Food and Beverage companies and their employees 10 e-learning skills training courses in 6 languages including Tagalog, Punjabi, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian/Ukrainian and French. Chromebooks will be provided for employee learning at home. The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) — a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) — has published its priorities for calendar years 2022–2023. Federal The results of the premarket assessment support the safety of lipase from C. rugosa for its requested uses. Consequently, Health Canada has extended the use of lipase from C. rugosa and updated the name of this source to “Candida cylindracea” to reflect its most recent taxonomic identification, as described in the information document below by modifying the List of Permitted Food Enzymes, effective January 11, 2022. This mandatory information gathering notice applies to anyone who manufactured, imported or used more than 10 kg of any of the substances listed in the notice at a concentration ≥0.02% by weight. BPA and BPA structural analogues and functional alternatives have many useful substance properties and are widely used as antimicrobials, antioxidants, flavorants, colorants, colour developers, heat stabilizers, phenols, flame retardants, vulcanizers, UV absorbers and skin conditioners. They can be found in goods such as epoxy adhesives/sealants, polycarbonate plastics, thermal paper, electronics, food packaging, dental amalgams or composite fillings, sunscreens, perfumes, paints/coatings and lubricants. Information about certain activities involving these substances in 2019 is required to be reported by March 16, 2022. If your company does not meet the reporting criteria but has interest in any of these substance we encourage you to send a Declaration of Non-Engagement and Declaration of Stakeholder Interest to Environment and Climate Change Canada by email: [email protected]. Summary of public comments received on the Chemicals Management Plan approach for a subset of inorganic and organometallic substances has been published. This approach addresses 59 inorganic and organometallic substances that were identified as priorities for assessment as they met the categorization criteria under subsection 73(1) of CEPA 1999, were considered a priority based on other human health concerns or were identified for further consideration following prioritization of the Revised In Commerce List (R-ICL). The list of substances covered under this initiative can be found within the approach document. As of January 15, 2022, certain categories of travellers who are currently exempt from entry requirements, will only be allowed to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved for entry into Canada.
British Columbians are invited to provide feedback on proposed health and safety requirements for contractors, employers and workers who undertake asbestos abatement work. Do you or your employees work in a cold environment? You will leave this webinar with an understanding of cold stress and how to prevent you or your workers from experiencing cold stress injuries. The Office of the Employer Adviser (OEA) is an independent agency of the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) Our staff are available to assist you with workplace safety and insurance matters under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, and unlawful reprisal allegations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Our services are completely confidential, and you will never be charged a fee as the OEA is funded through the premiums or administrative fees you pay to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). People and organizations are welcome to share their ideas via an online survey, emailed or mailed submissions to the Ministry of Finance, or through a series of virtual consultations across the province that begin Monday, January 17. WorkSafeNB is seeking stakeholder feedback to understand the economic and business impacts of proposed amendments to New Brunswick General Regulation 91-191 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. January 13, 2022 – the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a white paper developed by the Interagency Working Group on Asbestos in Consumer Products (IWGACP) that contains scientific opinions for the testing of talc-containing cosmetics and talc intended for use in cosmetics for the possible presence of asbestos, a known human carcinogen with well-documented health risks. These opinions of scientific experts are intended to inform the FDA’s consideration of testing methods for talc and talc-containing cosmetics. The State of New York enacts the family and fire fighter protection act relating to the regulation of chemicals in upholstered furniture, mattresses and electronic enclosures; bans the use of certain flame retardant chemicals in furniture and mattresses; bans the use of certain flame retardant chemicals in electronic casings. EPA is accepting public comments on candidates under consideration for selection as ad hoc peer reviewers assisting the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) with their review of the draft EPA Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Systematic Review Protocol (protocol). The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Egg Regulatory Officials (NERO) are announcing a new program for state egg and egg product regulators entitled the Egg Regulatory Program Standards (ERPS). The standards are designed to integrate the regulatory activities of partner agencies into an efficient and effective process for improving egg and egg product safety in the U.S. The mandatory compliance date is January 1, 2022. These new rules require food manufacturers, importers, and retailers to disclose information whether foods are bioengineered or use bioengineered ingredients, disallowing well-established terms like “genetically engineered” and “GMO” on labels. However, other types of official certifications like USDA Organic and NON-GMO Project Verified will be allowed. Manufacturers and importers of dietary supplements must also comply with these new rules. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. This notice solicits comments on the information collection provisions of the Agency’s regulations that require registration for domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption in the United States – information must be submitted by March 14, 2022. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is amending the requirements that specify the analytical method FDA uses to determine the concentration of sulfites in food. This action, among other things, provides a new analytical method that can be used as an alternative to the existing analytical method and will help improve the efficiency of FDA testing for sulfites in food. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which was signed into law on November 15, 2021, requires FMCSA to establish a pilot program that would allow employers to establish an apprenticeship program for certain 18-, 19-, and 20-year-old drivers to operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. This notice addresses the comments received on the September 10, 2020, notice and provides the details on the establishment of the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program required by the IIJA. The Candidate List of substances of very high concern now contains 223 entries for chemicals that can harm people or the environment. Companies are responsible for managing the chemicals safely and providing sufficient information to their customers and consumers. One of the four substances is used in cosmetics and has been added to the Candidate List as it has hormone-disrupting properties in humans. Two are used, for example, in rubbers, lubricants and sealants, and have been included because they negatively affect fertility. The fourth is used in lubricants and greases and has been added as it is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, and therefore harmful for the environment. The Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) prepares the opinions of ECHA related to the risks of substances to human health and the environment in the following REACH and CLP processes. The final decisions are taken by the European Commission. Please note that draft guidance documents are only available in English until finalised by the International Council for Harmonization (ICH). It is also important to note that amendments to draft documents may occur as a result of regulatory consultations and subsequent deliberations within the ICH. Safety Share The CCOHS has updated its e-course covering the hazards associated with the use, storage, and handling of compressed gases, and how you can safely work with them using industry-proven good practices in our newly updated online course. In case you missed it, the latest edition of the Safety Compass is now online! Check out the new Winter 2022 issue today and read about the latest news and resources from the FHWA Office of Safety and our partners!
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