Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF APRIL 8, 2021
With authorizations for suppliers of approved technical grade ethanol set to expire, Health Canada re-engaged the scientific task force and reviewed the evolving supply and demand context. Authorizations for suppliers of technical grade ethanol will be extended from March 31, 2021, to December 31, 2021. Corresponding extensions will also be granted for distributors of technical-grade ethanol and manufacturers of hand sanitizers and hard-surface disinfectants using technical-grade ethanol. The rationale for the extensions can be found on the technical grade ethanol web page.
Please take note that the Customs Tariff 2021 was updated effective April 1, 2021
As of April 1, 2019, fees for notification of new substances filed under the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers) are modified annually based on the country’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) – specifically the previous year’s April All-Items CPI. See the fee table [PDF] for existing fees (valid until March 31, 2021) and adjusted fees effective April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
The Amendments will apply to the following regulations (collectively referred to as “the four regulations”) as part of an omnibus regulatory process:
- 1. PCB Regulations (PCB means Polychlorinated Biphenyls);
- 2. 2-Butoxyethanol Regulations;
- 3. Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012; and
- 4. Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations.
It is concluded that the substance does not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).
It is concluded that the substance, Phosphonic acid, [[(phosphonomethyl)Imino]bis[2,1-ethanediylnitrilobis(methylene)]]tetrakis-, does not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA.
On March 18, 2020, Health Canada introduced an interim measure for the exceptional release of hard surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers to expedite access to products that may not fully meet regulatory requirements under the Food and Drugs Act. This interim measure enabled Health Canada to facilitate the availability of supplies of hard surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers for Canadians.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched an expanded virtual assistant to help industry and consumers better self-serve and find key information, tools and resources.
Starting on March 31, 2021, section 10.5 Rendered products will be implemented from the Terrestrial animal products and by-products: An import policy framework.
The implementation of this section will not have an impact on existing import conditions or international trade.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has expanded its interpretation of the definition of a “supplement” under the Fertilizers Act to include materials that act either directly or indirectly to improve the condition of soils, or to aid plant growth or crop yield.
WASHINGTON (April 1, 2021) — Yesterday, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan met with Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, in support of President Biden’s February 23rd meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau.
On March 23, 2021, pursuant to paragraph 41(1)(b) of the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has made a final determination of dumping concerning certain wheat gluten originating in or exported from Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and Lithuania.
The subject goods are usually classified under the following tariff classification numbers:
- 1109.00.10.00
- 1109.00.20.00
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is now accepting applications for the 2021 Chad Bradley Scholarship Award. Now in its second year, the $3,000 scholarship is open to women enrolled in post-secondary education who are pursuing careers in the field of occupational health and safety from an accredited college or university in Canada. The entry deadline for the Chad Bradley Scholarship Award is August 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. EDT and winners will be announced in the Fall of 2021.
Starting April 1, 2021, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 2021 North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria are now in effect. Commercial motor vehicle enforcement personnel use the criteria to identify commercial motor vehicle and driver violations that result in the vehicle or driver being placed out of service. The 2021 out-of-service criteria replace and supersede all previous versions.
Alberta’s government is turning its focus to specific technical rules and requirements in the OHS Code. We are asking workers, job creators and health and safety professionals for their ideas to improve and update the OHS Code. The survey opened on March 30 and closes on May 10.
Winter precipitation levels continued to track below normal since November 2020 in central and southern Manitoba basins. Precipitation in northern Manitoba basins has been normal to below normal since November 2020. Long-term weather projections indicate a higher chance for near-normal to below-normal precipitation for April and May.
Road safety authorities and trucking professionals agree that driver fatigue is a top risk in Ontario’s trucking industry.
Section 145 is amended by replacing the second paragraph with the following: “The quantity of drinking water provided to the workers must be sufficient to meet their daily physiological and personal hygiene needs while taking into account, in particular, the work situation and the environmental and climatic conditions. Without limiting the scope of the second paragraph, the quantity must at least enable each worker to drink 1 litre of drinking water, wash their hands 4 times over a period of 8 hours and take a shower once a day, when this Regulation requires that it be put at the disposal of the workers. The quantity must also ensure the proper functioning of emergency showers, if applicable.”.
[/vc_column_text] This notice announces that PHMSA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety will host four public meetings during 2021 in advance of certain international meetings. The first meeting will be held in preparation of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) Working Group 21 (WG/21) virtual meeting scheduled for May 24-28, 2021. The second meeting will be held in preparation of the 58th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE TDG) scheduled for June 28 to July 2, 2021, in Geneva, Switzerland. The third meeting will be held in preparation of the ICAO DGP 28 Meeting (DGP/28) scheduled for September 27 to October 1, 2021. The fourth meeting will be held in preparation of the 59th session of the UNSCOE TDG scheduled for November 29 to December 8, 2021. For each of these meetings, PHMSA will solicit public input on current proposals. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the Semiannual Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions online at https://www.reginfo.gov and at https://www.regulations.gov to update the public. This document contains information about: Regulations in the Semiannual Agenda that are under development, completed, or cancelled since the last agenda; and Reviews of regulations with small businesses. The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing the control of the chemical methyl alpha-phenylacetoacetate (also known as MAPA; methyl 3-oxo-2-phenylbutanoate; methyl 2-phenylacetoacetate; [alpha]-acetyl-benzeneacetic acid, methyl ester; and CAS Number: 16648-44-5) and its optical isomers as a list I chemical under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Methyl alpha-phenylacetoacetate is used in clandestine laboratories to illicitly manufacture the schedule II controlled substances phenylacetone (also known as phenyl-2-propanone or P2P), methamphetamine, and amphetamine and is important to the manufacture of these controlled substances. Comments must be submitted electronically or postmarked on or before June 1, 2021.
As part of the SVHC 2020 Roadmap launched by the Council of the EU in 2013, all relevant, currently known substances of very high concern have been identified and included on the Candidate List. Systematic screening of registered substances has been key in identifying new chemicals of concern.
Safety Share
Thank you for joining NSC in recognizing Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Use these resources to create or enhance a distracted driving program to engage your workforce, share safe driving messages, and help keep your roadways and people safer. These step-by-step instructions will help you make the most of your distracted driving materials.
Information supporting the safe storage of flammable and combustible liquids is outlined in the NFPA Code 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code. The two most important factors that define the risk associated with the storage of flammable and combustible liquids like a sanitizer is the container type and size as well as the properties of the liquid in the container. Regarding container performance under fire conditions, steel drums when equipped with fusible plugs and paired with an adequately designed foam water sprinkler system will retain their integrity. However, metal containers can over-pressurize and rupture when exposed to fire. But the likelihood of this occurring can be significantly reduced by using a relieving-style container (the use of fusible plugs).
The sodium webinar held by Health Canada on January 21, 2021, will be available until July 22, 2021. This extension will allow those who did not have a chance to attend or would like to view the video recording to do so. The video recording is available here: https://healthcanada.adobeconnect.com/p0ptc8qmeala/. The password is: sodium.
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