Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 7, 2022
The guidance describes steps companies should take, before a recall is necessary, to develop recall policies and procedures that include training, planning and record-keeping to reduce the time a recalled product is on the market and, thus, limit the public’s exposure to risk. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is seeking to fill vacancies on the Canadian Environment Domestic Advisory Group (CEDAG) established under the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA). The appointment will start in July 2022, for a three-year term with the possibility of renewal. Transport Canada understands that supply chain issues have wide-ranging impacts and would like to hear the views of all Canadians. We want to continue this important conversation and gather additional comments, questions, and feedback from the public. Ekotox Centres has been a partner for the past 5 years providing our customers with regulatory expertise to access the European market. We also support Ekotox customers access the Canadian and US markets by providing compliance assistance. If you do business in Europe we encourage you to register for three upcoming webinars covering legislative changes, REACH reform and the reform of the authorizations and restrictions system. Federal Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) program is sharing the following Final Risk Assessment Publications Plan to inform stakeholders of publications from April to June 2022. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada have announced their plan to carry out a series of workshops and interactive events in a policy lab format, in which participants will be brought together to collaboratively develop and test innovative solutions. The consultations will be led by Wood Canada Limited, with partners from the University of Massachusetts’s Lowell Center for Sustainable Production. It is proposed to conclude that 1-bromopropane meets one or more of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA, and that bromoethane, chloroethane and trans-1,2-dichloroethene do not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA. It is proposed to conclude that 1-bromopropane meets the persistence criteria but not the bioaccumulation criteria as set out in the Persistence and Bioaccumulation Regulations of CEPA. Health Canada’s Food Directorate completed a premarket safety assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of cellulose as an anticaking agent in non-dairy (i.e., plant-based) cheese flavoured preparations that are grated, shredded, cubed or diced. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is updating and simplifying the process for importing invertebrates and micro-organisms under the Plant Protection Act. Wood products continue to be subject to inspection and testing for pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), which may result in delays with customs clearance. On May 2nd, 2022, new import requirements for simple pet chews will be published in the Automated Import Reference System. The conditions will be modernized and simplified to more clearly categorize imported products. One of the changes applying to all chews is a clarification regarding microbiological test results. These results will have to be clearly linked to the shipment by a lot number on the import documents. This will ensure a higher degree of safety for Canadian pets and owners. There will be a 12-month transition period during which products will be accepted for import under either the old or new conditions. As ministers of the Environment and other leaders meet at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, Kenya, this week, more than 170 Member States will deliberate over the launch of a process to develop a new global agreement on plastic pollution.
The province has published a handbook for employers and employees about how to carry out hazard assessments and control same to meet legislative requirements. The Ontario government has introduced legislation to protect workers on the job and save lives. If passed, the Working for Workers Act, 2022 (Working for Workers Act 2), will require workplaces that are at risk of a worker opioid overdose to have naloxone kits. The legislation would also introduce the highest fines in Canada for companies that fail to follow workplace health and safety laws. SaferPlacesNB.ca, an educational website designed to assist employers and employees to better address and prevent sexual harassment, was launched virtually today. The latest TSCA Inventory is now available on EPA’s website. The TSCA Inventory is a list of all existing chemical substances manufactured, processed, or imported in the U.S. March 3, 2022 – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2020 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, which shows that environmental releases of TRI chemicals by facilities covered by the program declined by 10% between 2019 and 2020. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of the final scope of the risk evaluation to be conducted for octamethylcyclotetra-siloxane (D4) (Cyclotetrasiloxane, 2,2,4,4,6,6,8,8-octamethyl-; Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN) 556-67-2), a chemical substance for which EPA received a manufacturer request for risk evaluation. The scope document includes the conditions of use, hazards, exposures, and the potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations that EPA plans to consider in conducting the risk evaluation for this chemical substance. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of and requesting public comment on a draft revision to the risk determination for the Colour Index Pigment Violet 29 (PV 29) risk evaluation issued under TSCA. The draft revision to the PV 29 risk determination was developed following a review of the first ten risk evaluations issued under TSCA that was done in accordance with Executive Orders and other Administration priorities, including those on environmental justice, scientific integrity, and regulatory review, and this draft revision reflects the announced policy changes to ensure the public is protected from unreasonable risks from chemicals in a way that is supported by science and the law. Comments must be received on or before April 21, 2022. As a follow-up to the September 2021 announcement on the path forward for five rules restricting the use of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the compliance dates related to articles containing phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1)), along with associated recordkeeping requirements, until October 31, 2024. The proposed rule will update the design and construction requirements for OSHA’s powered industrial trucks standards for general industry and construction, including fork trucks, tractors, platform lift trucks, motorized hand trucks and other specialized industrial trucks powered by an electric motor or an internal combustion engine. This notice announces that PHMSA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety will host three public meetings during 2022 in advance of certain international meetings. The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has selected bisphenol S (BPS) for the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee review for possible listing under Proposition 65 and is soliciting information relevant to the assessment of its reproductive toxicity. Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster – February 4, 2022 – The Accord establishes that the rules applicable to the import into Mexico of identical or similar goods that are usually imported into Mexico are subject to the payment of antidumping or countervailing duties. China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) has begun distributing usernames and passwords directly to FDA regulated U.S. establishments to allow access to their accounts within the GACC Single Window System, also known as the China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER) system, via https://cifer.singlewindow.cn. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published assessments concluding that there is currently no need to restrict the use of trichloroethylene (TCE; EC 201-167-4, CAS 79-01-6) and 1-bromopropane (EC 203-445-0, CAS 106-94-5) in articles in accordance with Article 69(2) of REACH. Safety Share Adjusting the time by one hour may not seem like too drastic a change, but sleep experts have noted troubling trends that occur during the transition between Standard Time and DST, particularly in March. These issues include upticks in heart problems, mood disorders, and motor vehicle collisions. Furthermore, DST can cause sleep problems if circadian rhythms are not aligned with natural cycles of light and darkness. Some people also experience insomnia symptoms due to spring time changes. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) will be presenting a free, two-part webinar, Preventing Workplace Harassment and Violence, to help workplaces address and develop policies on harassment and violence. The European Commission is hosting its second stakeholder workshop on Safe and Sustainable by Design chemicals and materials. The workshop is organised remotely and will present the draft methodology to define safe and sustainable by design criteria for chemicals and materials. The agenda for the 2022 American Food Sure Summit in Chicago is now live! Partners in Preventions hosts a variety of events and conferences throughout the year that raise awareness and provide educational and professional networking opportunities. Chemspec Europe is back in 2022 in Frankfurt, Germany. Due to COVID-19 health concerns, the 2022 event will be held on May 31-June 1 at Messe Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany.Advocacy
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