REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 24, 2023

• Food sector fully funded training program for your supervisors

Food Processing Skills Canada has launched Skills Training Across Canada for food and beverage manufacturing industry employers. This new and free program is your solution to upskilling current supervisors and developing workforce talent.

• Avian influenza A(H5N1) and the continuing outbreak

This evidence brief provides an update of the current avian influenza A(H5N1) outbreak, which started in late 2021. While the situation in Canada has improved and the risk in humans remain low, the outbreak continues to persist globally with unprecedented spread among a wide range of birds, wild mammals, and domestic pets. This suggests the need for continued vigilance and a review of how EPH practice can contribute to a One Health approach in managing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

• Health Canada’s consultation on improving access to health products will close on August 4, 2023.

This is the 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. The consultation focuses on solutions that can be advanced by Health Canada as a federal regulator and by others who have a role to play in helping to prevent shortages. Solutions are being explored under the following four key areas for actions that were identified through our early engagement:

• British Columbia proposing policies regarding duty to cooperate and maintain employment

The Workers Compensation Amendment Act (No. 2), 2022 (Bill 41) amended the Workers Compensation Act to add a duty to cooperate and a duty to maintain employment. These new provisions will come into force January 1, 2024. The Policy, Regulation and Research Department is releasing a discussion paper with proposed policies to provide guidance on these new provisions.

• Ontario Protecting Workers by Requiring Temporary Help Agency Licences

The Ontario government is protecting vulnerable and temporary foreign workers by requiring temporary help agencies (THAs) and recruiters to have a licence to operate in the province as of January 1, 2024. Inspections by Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development officers have shown that multiple temporary help agencies in Ontario are illegally paying people below the minimum wage and denying other basic employment rights to gain an unfair competitive advantage over law-abiding agencies by undercutting rates.

• New Brunswick issues WorkSafeNB annual report

The province published its 2022 Annual Report and list of accomplishments.

• Nova Scotia declares province wide state of emergency

A provincewide state of emergency (SOE) has been declared in Nova Scotia, today, July 22, in response to severe flooding across the province. The state of emergency will:

• limit travel in heavily impacted areas
• allow the deployment of key human and physical assets to aid in the response and recovery
• facilitate the coordinated restoration of impacted critical infrastructure

A state of emergency remains in effect for 14 days, until August 5, unless government terminates or extends it.

• FDA Responds to Petition on Phthalates in Food Packaging and Food Contact Applications

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied a petition requesting that the agency reconsider its denial of a citizen petition issued on May 19, 2022. The citizen petition requested a ban on the use of eight ortho-phthalates and revocation of the prior sanctioned uses for five ortho-phthalates in food based on alleged safety concerns.

• Draft IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorohexane Sulfonate (PFHxS) and Related Salts

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60-day public comment period associated with release of the draft Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Toxicological Review of Perfluorohexane Sulfonate (PFHxS) and Related Salts.

• OSHA Final Rule: Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is amending its occupational injury and illness

recordkeeping regulation to require certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness information to OSHA that employers are already required to keep under the recordkeeping regulation. Specifically, OSHA is amending its regulation to require establishments with 100 or more employees in certain designated industries to electronically submit information from their OSHA Forms 300 and 301 to OSHA once a year. This final rule becomes effective on January 1, 2024.

• EPA Extends Comment Period for Proposed Updates to New Chemical Regulations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the public comment period for its proposed updates to new chemical regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), giving stakeholders more time to review and comment on the proposal. Comments can be submitted to docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2022-0902 on www.regulations.gov until August 8, 2023.

• EPA Proposes Workplace Safety Requirements for Carbon Tetrachloride

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal that will better protect workers from exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CTC), a chemical known to cause serious health risks such as liver toxicity and cancer. This proposal, if finalized, would protect people from these risks by minimizing exposures to workers and communities, while banning uses that have already ceased.

• Department of Labor announces rule expanding submission requirements for injury, illness data

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule that will require certain employers in designated high-hazard industries to electronically submit injury and illness information – that they are already required to keep – to the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Final rule takes effect Jan. 1, 2024, for certain employers.

• CSB Releases New Safety Video on 2019 Explosions and Fires

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released a new safety video on its investigation into the serious November 2019 incident at the TPC Group Chemical Plant in Port Neches, Texas. A series of explosions destroyed a portion of the TPC facility, damaged nearby homes and businesses, and prompted a mandatory evacuation of residents living within four miles of the plant. Several workers and members of the public reported injuries and fires burned at the facility for over a month.

• Europe launches consultation to restrict PFAS

Germany has initiated a proposed restriction on the manufacture, placing on the marked and use of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The consultation closes September 25, 2023.

• OECD launches Substitution and Alternatives Toolbox (SAAToolbox)

The OECD Substitution and Alternatives Assessment Toolbox – SAAT Toolbox- compiles resources relevant to chemical substitution, selection and alternatives assessment. It includes tools and data sources to help users to evaluate potential hazards of chemicals with a subset focused on materials, processes and products. Additional tools address exposure assessment, life-cycle assessment and economic and social considerations. The SAAT Toolbox also contains topical frameworks, guides, toolkits and product rating systems developed by various organisations. Case studies on substitution conducted by manufacturers, academic institutions, NGOs or government bodies are compiled.

• FAO launches Action Plan for ambitious climate strategy

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched an Action Plan designed to support the implementation of its ambitious Strategy on Climate Change 2022-2031.  The Strategy, which was endorsed in June 2022 by FAO’s executive body, the Council, envisages agrifood systems as sustainable, inclusive, resilient and adaptive to climate change.

Safety Share

• Heat stress can kill!

Recognize the symptoms of heat stress in yourself and your co-workers. Symptoms include rash, cramping, fainting, excessive sweating, headache, and dizziness.

Have an event you would like to share? Please send details to [email protected].

• ChemEdge 2023 – August 16-18, 2023 – The Woodlands, Texas

ChemEdge 2023 is bringing supply chain professionals all along the chemical distribution industry together to share best practices and business solutions.

• Asian Chemicals Forum – September 5-6, 2023 – New Delhi, India

Asian Chemicals Forum (ACF) will cover a wide range of topics related to safe chemical management.

• European Association Chemical Distributors Annual Congress – September 11-13, 2023 – Barcelona, Spain

“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.

• The CCOHS Forum is Back -September 26-27, 2023 – Halifax, NS

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.

• World Food Forum – October 16 – 20, 2023 – Rome, Italy

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).

• International Baking Association –  October 22-26, 2023 – Munich, Germany

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.

• ECHA Conference 2024 – February 28, 2024 – Helsinki, Finland

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.