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July 27, 2015

Canada Begins Mandatory Survey with Respect to Certain Nanomaterials in Canadian Commerce

Lynn L. BergesonCarla N. Hutton

The July 25, 2015, Canada Gazette includes a notice announcing that the Minister of the Environment requires, for the purpose of assessing whether the substances described in the notice are toxic or are capable of becoming toxic, or for the purpose of assessing whether to control, or the manner in which to control the listed substances, any person described in the notice who possesses or who may reasonably be expected to have access to the information required to provide that information. The notice applies to a substance that has a size of between 1 and 100 nanometers in at least one external dimension, or internal or surface structure; and is provided in the list in Schedule 1 of the notice. The list includes over 200 substances. The notice applies to any person who, during the 2014 calendar year, manufactured a total quantity greater than 100 kilograms (kg) of a substance set out in Schedule 1. The notice also applies to any person who, during the 2014 calendar year, imported a total quantity greater than 100 kg of a substance set out in Schedule 1, at any concentration, whether alone, in a mixture, or in a product. The notice does not apply to a substance in Schedule 1, whether alone, in a mixture, or in a product, that:

(a) Is in transit through Canada;

(b) Is naturally occurring;

(c) Is incidentally produced;

(d) Is, or is contained in, a hazardous waste or hazardous recyclable material within the meaning of the Export and Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations and that was imported in 2014 pursuant to a permit issued under those Regulations;

(e) Is, or is contained in, a pest control product within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Pest Control Products Act where that pest control product is registered under the Pest Control Products Act;

(f) Is, or is contained in, a fertilizer or supplement within the meaning of section 2 of the Fertilizers Act where that fertilizer or supplement is registered under the Fertilizers Act;

(g) Is, or is contained in, a feed within the meaning of section 2 of the Feeds Act where that feed is registered under the Feeds Act; or

(h) Is mixed with, or attached to, a seed within the meaning of section 2 of the Seeds Act where that seed is registered under the Seeds Act.

Information to be provided includes:

  • The basis on which the substance identified was determined to be in nanoscale form by indicating “research & development sources,” “technical data,” “information available from patents,” “marketing claim,” “assumption,” or “other (specify)”;
  • The total quantity of the substance manufactured or imported;
  • The consumer and commercial codes that apply to the known or anticipated final substance, mixture, or product containing the substance;
  • For each applicable consumer and commercial code, whether any known or anticipated final substance, mixture, or product containing the substance is intended for use in commercial activities;
  • For each applicable consumer and commercial code, whether any known or anticipated final substance, mixture, or product containing the substance is intended for use in consumer activities;
  • For each applicable consumer and commercial code, whether any known or anticipated final substance, mixture, or product containing the substance is intended for use by or for children 14 years of age or younger; and
  • The study title(s) of any unpublished or published data or studies on the substance with regard to physical-chemical properties, bioaccumulation, persistence, toxicity, metabolism, degradation, release, or disposal of the substance from the final mixture or product.

Any person who provides information in response to this notice may submit a written request that the information or part of it be treated as confidential. Responses are due February 23, 2016.