Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 22, 2023
On March 27, 2023, the Regulatory Affairs Sector at TBS launched a consultation on the Annual Regulatory Modernization Bill on the Let’s Talk Federal Regulations online engagement platform that is now extended until June 19, 2023. We are seeking input from interested organizations and individuals on incorporation by reference, regulatory sandboxes, as well as potential legislative amendments regarding barriers to efficiency, overly restrictive legislation, and unnecessary requirements. Your input to this consultation is extremely valuable to us as it will help us ensure that Canada’s federal regulatory system remains responsive to the needs of all Canadians. You are invited to read the What We Heard Report summarizing comments received from the Breaking Down Inter-Jurisdictional Regulatory Barriers consultation conducted on Let’s Talk Federal Regulations last spring/summer 2022. The consultation reached out to external stakeholders to explore regulatory barriers and opportunities to support trade and supply chains and gather suggestions on potential items for regulatory cooperation tables. Generally, stakeholders were supportive of Canada’s regulatory cooperation efforts and made several suggestions to address cross-border regulatory barriers, covering various industries. The purpose of this notice is to announce Health Canada’s strategy to continue addressing shortages of infant formula and other foods for a special dietary purpose (FSDP) by extending the Interim policy on the importation and sale of infant formulas, human milk fortifiers and dietary products for the treatment of inborn errors of metabolism to mitigate shortages. This notice also communicates Health Canada’s commitment to initiate work on the modernization of the regulations for infant formula and other FSDP and the department’s plans for a public consultation in the fall of 2023. On May 15, 2023, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) launched a public consultation seeking feedback on a new proposed program directive, D-22-03: Phytosanitary requirements for the importation and domestic movement of grapevine material for propagation or decorative use. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is seeking comments on the following proposed new single ingredient feed (SIF) description for D-Panthenol. The consultation ends June 17, 2023. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is initiating the process to implement an interim standard for domestic and imported biosolids contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or “forever chemicals” sold in Canada as commercial fertilizers. The CFIA intends to implement an interim standard of less than 50 parts per billion of Perflurooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) for all domestic and imported biosolids intended for use as commercial fertilizers. New approach methods (NAMs) are used in chemical risk assessments and include any technology, methodology, approach or a combination of these that can be used to replace, reduce or refine animal testing and allow for more rapid or effective prioritization and/or assessment of chemicals. In Canada, the Government develops, validates and uses NAMs to support risk assessment, including for screening, prioritizing, grouping, and informing decisions in both the existing and new substances programs under CEPA 1999. This report provides a qualitative assessment of the fate, sources, occurrence, and potential impacts of PFAS on the environment and human health to inform decision-making on PFAS in Canada. It is proposed to conclude that the class of PFAS may be harmful to the environment and to human health and meets the criteria under paragraphs 64(a) and (c) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). A risk management scope has been published concurrently to initiate discussions with stakeholders on the risk management options being considered. This supporting document provides a summary of data available from the ecological-related science literature (up to March 2022) for PFAS in three subgroups and their respective salts and precursors. It also includes data and information on environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and trophic magnification potential, mobility, Canadian environmental monitoring data, and potential for adverse effects in the environment. Environment and Climate Change Canada is proposing to modernize the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations to strengthen environmental protection, widen their scope to address the transformation of the pulp and paper industry, and streamline the provisions to reduce administrative burden and improve efficiency. The consultation ends December 31, 2023. The Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health have assessed information pertaining to the substance ethane, 1-ethoxy-2-(2-methoxyethoxy)-, Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number 1002-67-1 permits the manufacture or import of the substance in accordance with the conditions. The Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is responsible for pesticide regulation in Canada. A decision has been published for Florpyrauxifen-benzyl – RD2023-08.
The employer failed to ensure that only trained operators are required or permitted to operate powered mobile equipment that resulted in the death of a worker due to a failure to ensure that a work platform mounted on a forklift was not securely attached. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development is implementing a focused inspection campaign on material handling at industrial workplaces. Find out how you can prepare. Recently released by the Department of Labour, Skills, and Immigration, Nova SAFE was designed to help provide Nova Scotians with a convenient way to access and reference workplace safety information when and where they need it. The Nova SAFE app is making it easier for you to find those answers anywhere at anytime. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing the availability of a draft Compliance Policy Guide entitled “Sec. 555.250 Major Food Allergen Labeling and Cross-contact.” The draft guidance, when finalized, will replace existing guidance for FDA staff on FDA’s enforcement policy regarding major food allergen labeling and cross-contact. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a guidance for industry entitled “Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods: What You Need to Know About the FDA Regulation: Guidance for Industry–Small Entity Compliance Guide.” The small entity compliance guide (SECG) is intended to help small entities comply with the final rule entitled “Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods.” The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of additional draft and revised draft product-specific guidance. The guidance provide product-specific recommendations on, among other things, the design of bioequivalence (BE) studies to support abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs). In the Federal Register of June 11, 2010, FDA announced the availability of a guidance for industry entitled “Bioequivalence Recommendations for Specific Products” that explained the process that would be used to make product-specific guidance available to the public on FDA’s website. The guidances identified in this notice were developed using the process described in that guidance. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing an atypical case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a neurologic disease of cattle, in an approximately five-year-old or older beef cow at a slaughter plant in South Carolina. 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. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information collection provisions of FDA’s third-party disclosure and recordkeeping requirements for reportable food. The collection of information must be submitted by July 21, 2023. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed amendments to the regulations that govern the Agency’s review of new chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to improve efficiency and align with the 2016 bipartisan TSCA amendments under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. Under TSCA, EPA plays an important gatekeeper role by reviewing the potential risks of new chemicals before they can enter U.S. commerce and, when necessary, putting safeguards in place to protect human health and the environment. The proposal also eliminates eligibility for exemptions from the full safety review process for new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals. In July 2023, California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff plans to release updated guidance on the next phases of the program, including the owner/vehicle reporting and compliance fee payment requirements, as well as the periodic vehicle testing requirements. Currently, fleet reporting season and compliance fee payments are projected for the last quarter of 2023, with periodic testing requirements beginning in the 2024 timeframe. The General standard for the labelling of non-retail containers of foods (CXS 346-2021) was the first text on food labelling to undergo this process and on Tuesday 16 May 2023, during the current session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling, taking place in Gatineau, Canada the text was presented to the team that led the work; India, Canada, Costa Rica and the United States of America. A pilot project led by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), and supported by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), has made an updated set of archived data from unpublished chemical tests available on the IUCLID website. The database contains now information about the hazard properties of 94 substances from 517 tests. Safety Share Implementing proper lockout and tag out procedures saves lives. An expert explains how to do it. You can protect yourself from tick bites by: Have an event you would like to share? Please send details to [email protected]. Ekotox Centers together with partners and representatives of Cefic, Eurometaux, EPMF are all kindly willing to participate on the REACH Conference Bratislava 2023. Taking place in New York City, LightFair 2023 is the must-attend architectural and commercial lighting event of the year. Ready for the Ontario food and beverage processing industry’s best annual event? It’s that time again to hear from industry experts and network with colleagues at Food and Beverage Ontario’s 9th Annual Conference. Location: Steam Whistle Brewery, 255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3M9. Time: 11:30 am to 6:30 pm ET. The workshop will be an opportunity to bring stakeholders together and develop a common understanding of what new approach methodologies (NAMs), can achieve in the short and long term. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will host its annual Conference & Expo at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas on June 19-21, 2023. This comprehensive event brings together thousands of the industry’s leading professionals who will attend more than 110 educational sessions addressing the latest issues, challenges, and trends in the world of fire, electrical, and life safety. Over two days delegates will come to learn from dozens industry leaders and technical experts about the exciting opportunities within Canada’s downstream sector. ChemEdge 2023 is bringing supply chain professionals all along the chemical distribution industry together to share best practices and business solutions. 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. 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). 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.Advocacy
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