Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF APRIL 22, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Controlled Substances (OCS), Health Canada will be temporarily issuing all narcotics, psychotropics and precursors import and export permits electronically. There will be no more mailing or sending via courier of permits.
These documents will be identical in structure to our existing permits, but there will be a slight difference in appearance of the document background and will have signatures and embossed stamps scanned onto the documents. These electronic permits will be sent via email to the QPIC or RPIC.
Thank you for your understanding. Please do not hesitate to contact the OCS if you have any questions.
The objective of the amendments is to support efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The designation as contraventions of offences under the Quarantine Act is intended to provide enforcement authorities with an additional enforcement tool to improve compliance with the Quarantine Act and the emergency orders made under that Act.
The amendments also enable enforcement authorities to issue contraventions tickets to young persons by establishing a fine amount that may not exceed $100 for any contraventions committed by a young person, including the contraventions under the Quarantine Act.
To help meet the demand for hand sanitizer brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, some distilleries, breweries, and wineries have started manufacturing hand sanitizer for the first time. This may involve working with new chemicals, using more concentrated forms of the chemicals, or implementing new chemicals. These changes may increase the risk of exposures to hazardous chemicals, as well as the risk of injuries, fires or explosions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, OHS officers will respond to work sites for serious incidents, fatalities and immediate danger conditions. During the pandemic:
- Health care, seniors care facilities and other essential services are the priority for inspections.
- All other proactive programs will be paused until further notice.
Officers will:
- use social distancing and all other required control measures when attending work sites
- respond to complaints using alternative methods such as phone or video conference with work site parties
- follow up at a later date to confirm the conditions at the work site
- provide educational materials and direct employers and workers to resources that will
- support compliance with COVID-19requirements continue to write orders where non-compliance has occurred
The ministry has extended the deadline for input on the review of current pre-start health and safety review requirements in the Industrial Establishments regulation to April 30. The requirements are being reviewed to ensure they continue to reflect the realities of today’s workplaces while maintaining existing worker health and safety protections. RDC will be submitting comments – to contribute please send your comments and recommendations to [email protected].
O.C. 454-2020 Labour standards amendment to Section 40 chapter N-1.1.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it will begin requesting that importers send records required under the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals (FSVP) rule electronically (or through other prompt means) to the Agency as it shifts to conducting these inspections remotely during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an expanded national emergency declaration to provide hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting emergency relief in response to the nationwide coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for the chemical substances identified in Unit IV. which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). This action requires persons to notify EPA least 90 days before commencing manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or processing of any of these chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this rule. The required notification initiates EPA’s evaluation of the intended use within the applicable review period. Persons may not commence manufacture or processing for the significant new use until EPA has conducted a review of the notice, made an appropriate determination on the notice, and has taken such actions as are required as a result of that determination. This rule is effective on May 19, 2020. For purposes of judicial review, this rule shall be promulgated at 1 p.m. (EST) on April 3, 2020.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for chemical substances which are the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). This action would require persons to notify EPA at least 90 calendar days before commencing manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or processing of any of these chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this proposed rule. This action would further require that persons not commence manufacture or processing for the significant new use until they have submitted a Significant New Use Notice, and EPA has conducted a review of the notice, made an appropriate determination on the notice under TSCA, and has taken any risk management actions as are required as a result of that determination.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has launched a consultation for ethylene oxide as a new potential candidate for substitution under the Biocidal Products Regulation. The deadline to comment is 8 June 2020.
To help companies and national authorities ensure that disinfectants authorised under derogations of the Biocidal Products Regulation (Article 55 (1)) can be used effectively and safely, we recommend certain compositional requirements for active chlorine released from sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid. Biocidal products containing these substances may be effective against the novel coronavirus. We have earlier published our recommendations for propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol (Isopropyl Alcohol).
The information in this user-friendly, pocket-sized publication is used worldwide as a guide for evaluation and control of workplace exposures to chemical substances and physical agents. Threshold Limit Value occupational exposure guidelines are recommended for more than 700 chemical substances and physical agents. There are more than 50 Biological Exposure Indices that cover more than 80 chemical substances.
Safety Share
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) – Use these free tip sheets as guidance while operating during a pandemic, including the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Each document offers health and safety tips and good practices, for both employers and workers, specific to each industry or sector. Organizations and businesses can adopt this guidance to protect their workers and prevent the spread of infections. The tip sheets cover a range of occupations and industries from construction and trucking to healthcare and daycares. Available in French.
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