Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 29, 2023
The Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion is taking place May 24 to 26, 2023. The Congress will open National AccessAbility Week and will be virtual, interactive, accessible, free, and open to all Canadians. The 2023 hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30. Climate change is expected to increase both the average and maximum rain rates that are associated with hurricanes. Scientists have already seen an indication of an increase in the global proportion of Category 3–5 hurricanes over the past four decades. With climate change, the average intensity of hurricanes is expected to increase, though we do not expect an increase in the total number of tropical cyclones. Health Canada is upgrading the free Canada Consumer Product Safety News and Updates subscription service. Starting on May 30, 2023, we will be using a new and improved system to send email notifications. As a current subscriber, you will be transferred to the new system automatically. California and Quebec released the results of the 35th joint cap-and-trade auction of carbon allowances from both jurisdictions. The final numbers include sales figures and settlement prices for 2023 (current) and 2026 (advance) vintages.
Alberta OHS has several resources on occupational health and safety considerations related to wildfires, including a bulletin on wildfire smoke that explains how this workplace hazard can be controlled. People will get a say in how future buildings are constructed in B.C., including cooling requirements and accessibility standards, as the Province launches a survey on proposed changes to the BC Building Code. At its April 2023 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors (BOD) approved the adoption of the 2019 and 2020 new and revised American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Values (ACGIH TLVs) for the following selected chemical substances: Due to sampling issues, the BOD decided to not adopt the new or revised ACGIH TLVs for 20 substances for which the existing exposure limits will be maintained on the Table of Exposure Limits for Excluded Substances in Policy R5.48-1 of the Prevention Manual. Effective June 6, 2023. An in-running nip hazard on machinery was unguarded resulting in a critical injury to a worker. Ontario is the first province in Canada to ban unfair or discriminatory Canadian work experience requirements to help newcomers work in the professions they trained for. In December 2023, all unfair requirements for Canadian experience will be automatically voided unless an exemption is granted by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development for public health and safety. Premiers are concerned by the uncertainty the new regulations may create and were disappointed that the federal minister has not provided clarity on the impact of the Regulations on fuel prices and fuel supplies, despite acknowledging there will be a disproportionate impact to Atlantic Canadians. The Food and Drug Administration is correcting a final rule entitled “Food Labeling, Infant Formula Requirements, Food Additives and Generally Recognized as Safe Substances, New Dietary Ingredient Notification; Technical Amendments” that appeared in the Federal Register of March 24, 2023. The final rule corrected typographical errors, corrected errors in sample labels, restored inadvertent omissions, and updated office and organization names, addresses, and other references. The document was published with an incorrect abbreviation to “Potassium” in the codified language. This document corrects that error. In Phase VII, Lacey Act declarations will be required for all remaining plant product Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes that are not 100-percent composite materials. That means a wide array of imported products—such as furniture, additional essential oils, and cork—that have never before needed Lacey Act declarations will now need them. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department of Transportation (DOT) is seeking public comments relate to the planned “Study of Commercial Motor Vehicle Crash Causation,” mandated by Congress in the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA). Comments on this notice must be received on or before June 26, 2023. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the new chemicals procedural regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). These amendments are intended to align the regulatory text with the amendments to TSCA’s new chemicals review provisions contained in the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, enacted on June 22, 2016, improve the efficiency of EPA’s review processes, and update the regulations based on existing policies and experience implementing the New Chemicals Program. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Hazardous Materials Safety will hold a public meeting to solicit input on potential adjustments to the statutorily mandated hazardous materials registration and fee assessment program. The potential adjustment of fees may be necessary to fund PHMSA’s national emergency preparedness grant programs at the newly authorized level in accordance with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. DATES: The meeting will be held virtually on June 28, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. This notice is to advise interested persons that OSHA will conduct a hybrid public meeting on June 21, 2023, in advance of the 44th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS) to be held as an in-person meeting July 10-12, 2023, in Geneva, Switzerland. OSHA, along with the U.S. Interagency Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) Coordinating Group, plans to consider the comments and information gathered at this public meeting when developing the U.S. Government positions for the UNSCEGHS meeting. The hybrid public meeting will take place on June 21, 2023. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposes to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations to maintain alignment with international regulations and standards by adopting various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) today passed updates to its rules on airborne toxics that will phase out the use of hexavalent chromium by chrome plating and chromic anodizing facilities, starting with its use for decorative purposes, where safer alternatives are now available. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is releasing a draft document summarizing the toxicity and derivation of Reference Exposure Levels (RELs) for Trimethylbenzenes (TMBs). This document will be reviewed and discussed by the Scientific Review Panel on Toxic Air Contaminants (SRP) at its meeting on June 16, 2023 in Sacramento, CA. RELs are airborne concentrations of a chemical that are not anticipated to result in adverse noncancer health effects for specified exposure durations in the general population, including sensitive subpopulations. Four new 2-page leaflets have been published by FAO and WHO as part of the campaign for World Food Safety Day. The leaflets are aimed at producers in the aquaculture, dairy, fisheries and horticulture sectors and provide advice on best practices for ensuring the production of safe food. Links are provided in the leaflets to FAO and WHO publications that give more in-depth expert and scientific information on good practices in each sector. Wood packaging material (WPM) is a pathway for wood-boring pests that can harm forest and natural resources. And for this reason, more than 20 years ago, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) adopted the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (commonly known as “ISPM 15”) to help reduce the risk of moving wood pests in WPM in international trade. The latest update to the International Uniform ChemicaL Information Database (IUCLID) reflects the amended information requirements for registering chemicals under Europe’s REACH Regulation. The updated formats and completeness check rules support companies in reporting their compliance with the REACH requirements. QSAR Toolbox 4.6 enhances connectivity with IUCLID, increases capacity to use external models and improves access to information about tested substances in the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) chemicals database. Safety Share (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety) Offices, schools, industrial and manufacturing environments, farms, restaurants, and entertainment venues can all be prone to excessive noise. While permanent hearing loss is the biggest concern, noise can also cause annoyance, stress, and communication issues among workers. Have an event you would like to share? Please send details to [email protected]. 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. Asian Chemicals Forum (ACF) will cover a wide range of topics related to safe chemical management. 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.
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