Canada Will Publish Draft Framework for Risk Assessment of Manufactured Nanomaterials for 60-Day Comment Period

On December 17, 2021, Canada published the Chemicals Management Plan implementation table for 2021-2024. Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), Canada plans to take the following actions regarding nanomaterials on the Domestic Substances List (DSL): prioritization of substances in commerce according to responses to the CEPA Section 71 Survey and screening assessment of high-priority nanomaterials on the DSL. The deliverables include:

• Publish a draft Framework for the Risk Assessment of Manufactured Nanomaterials for a 60-day public comment period. According to the implementation table, the framework is targeted for publication in the fourth quarter;
• Continue gathering information on nanoscale substances on the DSL, including by publishing a new CEPA Section 71 survey for nanoscale substances (expected in 2023); and
• Continue to conduct assessments, including for titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, between 2021 and 2024.

The rationale for action states that the nanoscale forms of substances listed on the DSL “have not been explicitly considered in the risk assessments of existing substances to date.” Canada is taking action to ensure that nanomaterials currently in commerce in Canada undergo ecological and human health risk assessments to ensure that appropriate control measures are taken, when required.