The Canadian government, through the Department of the Environment, has announced its intention to amend the Domestic Substances List (DSL) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). This amendment aims to introduce new regulatory oversight for four chemical substances that have been identified as potentially harmful to both the environment and public health.
The substances in question, which include Basic Violet 3 (CAS RN 548-62-9), Malachite Green (CAS RN 569-64-2), Basic Violet 4 (CAS RN 2390-59-2), and Basic Blue 7 (CAS RN 2390-60-5), will be subject to Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions. This regulatory action follows a detailed screening assessment by the Ministers of Environment and Health, which concluded that these substances meet the criteria under paragraph 64(a) of CEPA for being potentially harmful.
The proposed amendments will require any significant new activities related to these substances to be reported to the government 180 days before their commencement. Activities of concern include the manufacture and importation of consumer products containing these substances at concentrations greater than 0.1% by weight, particularly when the total quantity exceeds 10 kg in a calendar year.
Exemptions to these new requirements include the use of these substances in commercial printing inks, paper product dyes, and, specifically for Malachite Green, products intended for treating water in artificial aquatic environments like aquariums and ornamental ponds. Additionally, activities intended solely for export, or those involving research and development substances, will not require notification.
The public and industry stakeholders are invited to submit their comments and feedback within 60 days of this announcement. The final screening assessment and additional details about the proposed amendments can be accessed through the Canada.ca (Chemical substances) website.
