Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF JANUARY 15, 2020
Canadian Federal News
You can now access Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 2019 Fuels Information Package on the Fuels Group’s Google Drive.
The consultations will focus on the priorities laid out in the 2019 Speech from the Throne—strengthening the middle class and growing the economy, fighting and preparing for climate change and protecting the environment, keeping Canadians safe and healthy, and continuing the work towards reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada will receive $219,750 over three years for its renowned Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response initiative (TRANSCAER®) to:
- Construct a new TRANSCAER Safety Train – a railway tank car that will be converted into a classroom on wheels for the purpose of training emergency responders.
- Develop advanced training tools, including virtual reality educational tools that will allow state of the art training and education in even the most remote communities.
- Deliver a Canada-wide series of training sessions for communities and emergency responders using these new tools.
- Proposal to Enable the Use of Spirulina Extract as a Colouring Agent
Health Canada’s Food Directorate completed a detailed premarket safety assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of Spirulina extract as a food colouring agent in various foods. The results of the premarket assessment support the safety of Spirulina extract for its use as a colouring agent in a variety of foods. The Department is seeking feedback on its proposal to enable this new food additive use.
What will you do in your own life and community to support sustainable development?
A science approach document (SciAD) provides a description of a scientific approach to evaluate environmental or human health risk of substances. SciADs also include the results of the application of the scientific approach to substances that were identified as priorities for assessment because they met the categorization criteria under section 73 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) or were identified through other mechanisms as assessment priorities.
Canadian Provincial News
Changes to the joint work site health and safety committee requirements came into effect on December 13, 2019. Learn about the new HSC requirements and about the new training requirements.
- Read Health and safety committees and representatives.
- Read Mandatory health and safety committee and representative training.
- Browse the Online Resource Portal HSC category
O. Reg 471/19 amends the food premises requirements established by O. Reg 493/17 for prepackaged foods that will include food ingredients imported and distributed by RDC member organizations.
Effective July 1, 2020, Regulation 833 is amended by O. Reg. 449/19 to reflect the adoption of new or revised occupational exposure limits (OELs) or listings for 36 chemical substances based on recommendations by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).
US News
In order to be accepted into CTPAT, your company must be able to meet certain security requirements. Please visit the pages listed below that correspond with your industry or your role in the industry if you are interested in partnering with CBP in the CTPAT program.
International News
The final version of the CRC-15 meeting report and decisions taken is now available in all United Nations languages.
Inspectors in 29 countries checked 3 391 mixtures and inspected 1 620 companies (manufacturers, importers, downstream users and distributors).
The main findings of the project were:
- 43 % of all reported companies were found to have at least one non-compliance and 44 % of reported mixtures were non-compliant in some way.
- 17 % of reported mixtures were using an incorrect classification, which may result in incorrect labelling on the mixtures, and thereby incorrect safe use advice.
- For certain substances that have hazards of highest concern (carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity and respiratory sensitizers), classification and labelling is harmonised throughout the EU to ensure adequate risk management. For 9 % of those substances checked in the project, the required harmonised classification and labelling were not applied.
- 33 % of reported mixtures had incorrect labelling.
- 33 % of the checked safety data sheets were non-compliant with the requirements checked in the project.
The fourth meeting of the intersessional process will take place in Bucharest, Romania from 23 to 27 March 2020. Preparatory regional and sector meetings as well as technical briefings will be held on 22 March.
Other Relevant Information
Safety Share
Maria Tassou – Pallett Valo LLP – Employers have an obligation under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act to ensure they maintain a safe workplace. Employees need to know that while cannabis may be legal in Canada, it can lead to their termination in the workplace. Being impaired in the performance of your job duties, through consumption of a legal substance, is still impairment and can lead to disciplinary action. There is still zero tolerance for drug and alcohol impairment for employees driving commercial vehicles, which include those that require a class A to F licence, a vehicle requiring a Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CVOR) or a road-building machine. It is also important to note that the Criminal Code still makes impairment while driving a serious offence, regardless of whether the impairment is caused by alcohol or cannabis.
Fire protection systems are increasingly networked to Building Control Systems (BCS), Internet of Things (IoT), and other platforms that are, by design or oversight, exposed to the public-facing Internet. However, a thorough understanding of cybersecurity issues related to fire protection systems is lacking. A request for proposals has been issued for a project contractor to address this issue.
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