Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF JUNE 16, 2020
Canadian Federal News
The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, unveiled the program for Canada Day. On July 1, Canadians from coast to coast to coast are invited to take part in an array of virtual celebrations to express our national pride.
This year more than ever, Canada Day is an important national celebration bringing Canadians together, even if it is done virtually. It’s also time to commemorate some key events in our history, as this year marks the 40th anniversary of the official adoption of our national anthem, “O Canada,” and the essential role the Métis Nation played in Manitoba joining Confederation 150 years ago.
Please note that there is only 1 month remaining for importers of food ingredients to come into compliance by July 15, 2020. The Canada Border Services Agency will not permit any imports if the Importer of Record does not have the food establishment licence.
As of Thursday June 11th, Health Canada has published 13 product recalls, many of which were formulated with denatured alcohol DA2i or other alcohols containing methanol and/or ethyl acetate as the denaturant. More to follow.
Please be advised during the upcoming statutory holiday (July 1st, 2020), the NISC’s service hours will remain from 7:00 AM to 3:00 AM (Eastern Standard time) but its telephone lines (1-800-835-4486 and 1-877-493-0468) will not be monitored from 6:00 PM EST on June 30th to 7:00 AM EST on July 2nd. If you require assistance from NISC during this period, please email [email protected].
The Minister of the Environment, pursuant to paragraph 84(1)(a) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, hereby permits the import of the substance in accordance with the conditions of the following annex.
Health Canada has issued proposed guidelines for drinking water quality for metribuzin; and proposed residential indoor air quality guidelines for Acrolein.
Health Canada releases Drug Establishment Licence Update No. 87
Updated Question and Answer document regarding Nitrosamine Impurities for Market Authorisation Holders of Human Pharmaceutical Products.
On May 21, 2020, Scamp Industries Ltd., a fuel supplier based in Western Canada, was fined $200,000 in the Provincial Court of British Columbia after pleading guilty on June 17, 2019, to five counts of transferring petroleum products into a storage-tank system where storage-tank-system identification numbers were not visible.
The Agency is now in a position to gradually resume some inspection services that were temporarily suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CFIA will continue to monitor developments regarding COVID-19 and make adjustments to its service delivery plans as needed.
The objectives of the May 2019 meeting were to seek stakeholder views on several elements of ongoing work related to the administration and implementation of the CMP, to provide stakeholders with information on related Government of Canada efforts, and to update stakeholders on ongoing work to renew and modernize the CMP.
Canadian Provincial News
Stage 2 of Alberta’s COVID-19 recovery plan starts June 12. The Relaunch Strategy puts safety first while gradually reopening businesses, resuming activities and getting people back to work.
After one year of work, employees are entitled to these minimum paid vacations:
- 2 weeks with pay after each of the first 4 years of employment at 4% of yearly wages; or
- 3 weeks with pay after 5 consecutive years of employment at 6% of yearly wages.
Some employees receive vacation pay on each of their pay cheques, so their vacation time may be unpaid. Employers may deny requests for vacation at specific times. If an employer and employee can’t agree on the employee’s vacation time, the employer can decide when it will be taken. However, the employer must give the employee at least 2 weeks’ notice in writing of the vacation start date.
Recent updates: Recommendations for additional PPE and detailed cleaning procedures have been added. Please also note the changes to compression-only CPR.
The ministry has published two new web pages to assist Ontarians during the COVID-19 outbreak. Employers can learn about their employment standards responsibilities with regards to the Employment Standards Act, and health and safety, including how to protect workers. Workers can access information about leaves, vacation time and temporary layoffs, as well as information about health and safety protection.
Nova Scotia is carefully reopening its economy. For the businesses and organizations that were ordered closed or reduced their operations due to the pandemic, that means getting back to work with a strong focus on COVID-19 prevention and safety. Those that remained open will likely need to adjust their COVID-19 safety protocols to accommodate a broader range of activities. For all of us, reopening safely will mean being aware, and diligently making the COVID-19 prevention protocols part of our daily lives.
US News
The Food and Drug Administration has created the Data Dashboard to increase transparency and accountability by displaying and allowing the analysis of public FDA data through easy to use, visually accessible, customizable, and understandable graphics. The FSMA Data Search feature provides access to compliance and enforcement information.
With hurricane season beginning on June 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is assuring the public that the agency maintains its readiness to prepare for and respond to hurricanes amid the pandemic.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hereby declares that the continuing national emergency warrants the extension and modification of Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002 This extension continues the exemption granted from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for the fifty States and the District of Columbia as set forth below. This notice extends the exemption through July 14, 2020, subject to the restrictions and limitations set forth in this Extension.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing 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 requires persons to notify EPA at 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 chemical under the conditions of 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. DATES: This rule is effective on August 10, 2020. For purposes of judicial review, this rule shall be promulgated at 1 p.m. (e.s.t.) on June 23, 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 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. DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 15, 2020.
International News
The XXII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, originally scheduled to take place in Toronto this fall, has been moved to September 19-22, 2021, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Co-hosted by the Institute for Work & Health and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety, the 2021 global forum will still take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
The European Chemicals Agency’s Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) supports restricting the use of intentionally added microplastics while recommending more stringent criteria for biodegradable polymers. The Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) agreed on its draft opinion, which will soon be available for consultation.
The European Chemical Agency’s latest report shows that adaptations continue to be used more than experimental studies, with read-across being the most popular option. In vitro non-animal test methods see a significant uptake.
Other Relevant Information
Safety Share
As stores and parks begin to reopen across the country, it is important to continue to physically distance, including:
- Avoiding crowded places and gatherings.
- Avoiding common greetings, such as handshakes.
- Limiting contact with people at higher risk.
- Keeping a distance of at least 2 arm’s length from others.
Physical distancing is proven to be one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness during an outbreak, along with washing your hands with soap and water for a minimum.
TRANSCAER, Joe Taylor, Sr. Hazardous Materials Manager, CSX Transport – One of the most common questions railroads receive during training sessions for first responders is, “Why do some railroad tank cars have the commodity names on the sides, and some do not?” The incredibly short answer is….because the law requires some to be displayed, but doesn’t require all. In addition to understanding basic tank car nomenclature and identification, a first responder should be able to quickly identify the presence of hazardous materials during the initial assessment / scene size up.
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