Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF JULY 22, 2019
New information regarding storing food (Section 5.4) and transportation of food (Section 5.5).
On the basis of the information presented in this draft screening assessment, it is proposed to conclude that dimethoxymethane does not meet the criteria under paragraph 64(c) of CEPA as it is not entering the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health. It is therefore proposed to conclude that dimethoxymethane does not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA.
On the basis of the information presented in this draft screening assessment, it is proposed to conclude that acetic acid does not meet the criteria under paragraph 64(c) of CEPA as it is not entering the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health. It is therefore proposed to conclude that acetic acid does not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA.
The updates cover the following activities, and are located on the Third phase of the Chemicals Management Plan webpage:
- Two-Year Rolling Risk Assessment Publication Plan (2019-2021);
- Two-Year Rolling Risk Assessment Publication Plan for the remaining existing living organisms to be assessed under CEPA (2019–2021); and
- Two-Year Rolling Risk Management Activities and Consultations Schedule (2019-2021).
The Two-Year Publication Plan tab visually indicates time periods during which assessment products are expected to be published for the fourth and fifth years of the third phase of the CMP (April 2019 to March 2021). This includes Science Approach Documents, Screening Assessment Reports, State of the Science reports, and Problem Formulation Documents involving the substances listed under the Substances List tab.
When an import system is under maintenance or out of service, the following webpages will have a notice at the top of the page:
- National Import Service Centre
- Automated Shipment Inspection Status Search Tool
- Automated Import Reference System
- Automated Import Reference System Verification Service
Health Canada is establishing a new external Nutrition Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) to provide timely and independent scientific and technical advice related to nutrition, including current and emerging research within the field. Advice provided by the Committee may be used to inform Health Canada’s policies and programs. Health Canada is seeking nominations (including self-nominations) for up to eight (8) core members of the Committee as well as for ad hoc members. Nominations must be received by September 30, 2019.
This is to inform you that the HMIRA Claim for Exemption Application and Payment Authorization Forms are now available on the Health Canada website. As before, claimants can submit confidential or claim related documents (except fee payment by cheque/money order) by using the Secure Document Exchange (SDX).
On July 30th, Environment and Climate Change Canada is offering a one-hour webinar, in English and in French, to update partners and other interested parties on federal activities and next steps, and to answer any key questions. The webinars will provide an overview of the Government of Canada’s commitments and actions as well as the ongoing work with provinces and territories through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment.
- Ontario offering free webinar: Healthy workers in healthy workplaces
The Ministry of Labour (MOL) will run a province-wide inspection initiative from October 1 – December 27. Their focus is on MSD and respiratory hazards (specifically silica, welding fumes and diesel exhaust).
The Ontario Government is working with employers to keep new and young workers safe by launching targeted inspections focused on the safety of summer students. The inspections follow months of outreach to businesses by the Ministry of Labour to educate and assist them in creating safe workplaces.
The draft Regulation to amend the Regulation respecting halocarbons prescribes a time limit for the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) and, where applicable, for certain devices, to favour alternative technologies that are more respectful of the environment. It also amends the requirements regarding the environmental qualification of persons who may perform operations on devices containing such chemical substances.
How can workers with musculoskeletal or mental health conditions be supported to return to work (RTW)? Based on findings from a series of systematic reviews, the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) has put together a two-page handout that offers practical solutions for workplaces, insurance and workers’ compensation agencies, and health-care authorities.
Article by Philippe Bélisle – Langlois lawyers, LLP
Quebec’s Minister of Labour, Mr. Jean Boulet, recently announced his intention to launch a wide-ranging workshop aimed at the modernization of the entirety of the province’s occupational health and safety regime.
On January 19, 2017, EPA announced an interpretation of section 14 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Under this interpretation, non-exempt confidential business information (CBI) claims must be substantiated at the time the information claimed as CBI is submitted to EPA, and non-exempt CBI claims submitted without a substantiation are considered deficient. To facilitate compliance with the change in interpretation, EPA announced it would undertake a non-statutorily required practice of sending a notice of deficiency to an affected business that submitted a non-exempt CBI claim without a substantiation, providing an opportunity to correct the deficiency. The Agency also sent out notices of deficiency in instances where there were other procedural flaws in the submission, namely where the required CBI certification statement was not provided, or no generic name was provided when specific chemical identity was claimed as CBI. EPA’s extensive outreach on this interpretation over the past two years has been effective. As such, EPA is announcing it is revising its policy and that it will cease sending these non-statutorily required notices of deficiency to businesses who submit procedurally flawed CBI claims. This action makes more efficient EPA’s implementation of the TSCA section 14(g) requirement to review within 90 days of receipt all CBI claims for chemical identity, with limited exceptions, as well as to review a representative subset of at least 25% of other non-exempt claims.
OSHA recently redesigned the Whistleblower Protection Program’s website. The streamlined design highlights important information for employers and employees on more than 20 statutes enforced by the agency. The new whistleblower homepage utilizes video to showcase the covered industries, which include the railroad, airline, and securities industries. The improved navigational structure allows visitors to easily access information on protected activities, filing deadlines, and resources
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extends the comment period for its May 15, 2019 notice concerning a possible pilot program to allow non-military drivers aged 18, 19, and 20 to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. FMCSA received a request for an extension to the comment period from the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The Agency believes it is appropriate to extend the comment period to provide interested parties additional time to submit their responses to the notice. Therefore, the Agency extends the deadline for the submission of comments from July 15, 2019, to August 14, 2019.
ECHA has added four new substances to the Candidate List due to their toxicity to reproduction, endocrine disruption and a combination of other properties of concern. The latter causes probable serious effects to human health and the environment, giving rise to an equivalent level of concern to carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR), persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) and very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) substances, respectively.
A new guideline is available for industrial users of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to help them comply with the substance’s restriction requirements. The guideline is needed because this is the first restriction of its kind that is based on Derived no Effect Levels (DNEL).
After 17 years of long waiting, Taiwan new overarching cosmetic regulation, Cosmetic Hygiene and Safety Act was finally implemented on July 1, 2019. Several supplementary regulations also came into force together. The newly implemented cosmetic regulation divides cosmetics into two categories: general cosmetics and specific purpose cosmetics and differs the requirements for the two categories and for manufacturers and importers.
Safety Share
As you head out camping or pack up the car and trailer for your trip to the cottage, think twice before loading up your firewood. Moving untreated firewood, even just a few kilometers to or from a campground or cottage, is a common way for invasive insects and diseases to spread. The emerald ash borer, for example, has destroyed more than 10 million ash trees in Canada and it didn’t accomplish this feat alone. While this small, green pest can travel only short distances on its own, hiding in firewood it can travel hundreds of kilometers.
Hurricanes and tropical storms can create a variety of hazards for workers. Preparing for weather-related emergencies plays a vital role in ensuring that employers and workers have the necessary equipment to stay safe when severe weather strikes. OSHA’s Hurricane Preparedness and Response page provides information on creating evacuation plans and supply kits and reducing hazards for hurricane response and recovery work.
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