REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 9, 2019

• Guidelines for mixtures containing products of animal origin come into effect November 1, 2019

Starting November 1, 2019, guidelines for importing products of animal origin containing multiple ingredients come into effect (section 9 of the Terrestrial animal products and by-products: Import policy framework). These guidelines affect, for example, feeds, fertilizers, food with milk or egg ingredients, vitamin and mineral supplements, and commodities containing products of a rendering plant or other animal-origin ingredients.

• Canadian Notice and Movement Tracking System (CNMTS) module is now live

The CNMTS modernizes the way transboundary shipment of hazardous waste and hazardous recyclable material are managed in Canada. Movement documents and confirmations of disposal or recycling can now be generated, submitted, tracked, reviewed, cloned, exported and printed online. The CNMTS also allows the printing of blank movement documents to facilitate interprovincial shipments of hazardous waste or hazardous recyclable material in Canada.

• CBSA has released a new Addendum to the Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document

The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has released a new Addendum to the Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document (ECCRD), “Chapter 23: Single Window Initiative/Integrated Import Declaration”.

• Alberta clarifies medication in first aid kits

This bulletin provides information to employers and workers who are considering including medication in first aid kits.

• Ontario Launches Free Online Driver’s Licence Check Service

Ontario’s government is making it easier for people and businesses to check the status of an Ontario driver’s licence by eliminating the $2 fee and modernizing the online Driver’s Licence Check service.

• Ontario Ministry of Labour Inspectors Focusing on Musculoskeletal, Respiratory illnesses

Ministry of Labour inspectors will blitz workplaces in an effort to prevent Ontario’s top workplace injuries.

• New Brunswick provides small businesses with return-to-work help

Work is good – for employers, employees and our province as a whole. For injured workers, it’s especially valuable. Work keeps them productive and connected to others. Work helps them heal.

• List 4A now in effect causing more uncertainty

(Arent Fox LLP) List 4A goes into effect, all Section 301 tariffs are to increase by 5%, the US Trade Representative deadlines loom and the president has ordered US companies to “search for alternatives” to China sourcing. List 4 is divided into two parts:

• List 4A consists of approximately $125 billion of goods where China’s share of global US imports is less than 75%. It was scheduled for 1 September 2019.
• List 4B is slated for 15 December 2019, with no allowance for goods already in transit. List 4B includes mobile phones, laptops, toys and clothing. In announcing these tariffs, the USTR has indicated an exclusion process will be established for all List 4 products, but the details of those procedures have not yet been made public.

• New Respirator Fit Testing Protocols to Protect Workers from Airborne Contaminants

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today issued a final rule that provides employers with two new fit testing protocols for ensuring that employees’ respirators fit properly.

The new protocols are the modified ambient aerosol condensation nuclei counter (CNC) quantitative fit testing protocol for full-facepiece and half-mask elastomeric respirators, and the modified ambient aerosol CNC quantitative fit testing protocol for filtering facepiece respirators. Both protocols are variations of the original OSHA-approved ambient aerosol CNC protocol, but have fewer test exercises, shorter exercise duration, and a more streamlined sampling sequence.

• Beryllium Final Rule

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has finalized its June 27, 2017, proposal to revise the construction and shipyards standards.

• OSHA shares inspection guidelines

OSHA’s revised inspection weighting system supports the agency’s balanced approach to promoting safe and healthful workplaces.

• Europe proposes 18 substances for authorization

CHA’s ninth recommendation to the European Commission to prioritise substances of very high concern for authorisation includes 18 substances. Thirteen of these substances are toxic for reproduction, of which one has also endocrine disrupting properties. The other substances are an endocrine disruptor, a carcinogen, a very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) substance and two respiratory sensitisers.

• Stockholm Convention POPRC experts recommend elimination of PFHxS

Perfluorohehexane sulfonic acid, its salts, and PFHxS-related compounds, were recommended for listing without exceptions as the POPRC-15 meeting in Rome concluded successfully on 4 October 2019.

Safety Share

• Truck drivers die on the job and not always while on the road

Truck driver Chris Hesch died on the job, but not on the road. He isn’t the only one.

• Its fire prevention week – time to practice your fie escape plan

As part of a home escape plan, people should:

• Ensure smoke alarms are working and properly installed on every storey of your home
• Identify all possible exits (doors and windows)
• Know two ways out of every room, if possible
• Determine who requires assistance to get out of the home safely, including small children, pets and older adults
• Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from the home where everyone should gather
• Practice your plan and use different ways out of your home.