On February 26, 2025, Canada’s Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECCC) announced significant amendments to the Domestic Substances List (DSL) in an official gazette, further regulating the use and import of specific chemicals in consumer products and cosmetics to safeguard public health and environmental safety.
Key Revisions
The amendments focus on ethanol, 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]- (AEEA, CAS RN 111-41-1) and include the following updates:
1. Removal from DSL Part 1
AEEA has been removed from Part 1 of the DSL, subjecting its future use and import to stricter controls.
2. New Restrictions in DSL Part 2
AEEA is now listed in Part 2 of the DSL. Any new activities or imports involving the substance must comply with Significant New Activity (SNAc) reporting requirements under Section 81(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). Specific restrictions include:
- Manufacturing Limits:
Prohibited in products with AEEA concentrations ≥0.1% (by weight) in:-
- Consumer products regulated under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act with container sizes exceeding 250 mL;
- Cosmetics as defined by the Food and Drugs Act.
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- Import Limits:
Importers must submit prior notification if the annual import volume of products containing AEEA (≥0.1%) exceeds 10 kg.
3. Exemptions
- Use in research and development or as an on-site isolated intermediate (as defined in the New Substances Notification Regulations);
- Products containing AEEA solely for export purposes.
4. Reporting Requirements
Companies must submit detailed information to the Minister of Environment at least 90 days before initiating activities, including:
- Description of the activity, estimated annual volume/imports, product use, and safety data;
- Records of assessments by domestic or international authorities (if applicable);
- Legal representative details and a declaration of data accuracy.
The regulation takes effect upon registration. ECCC will complete assessments within 90 days of receiving full documentation. Non-compliant entities may face legal consequences.
