Chemicals Management Plan Assistance

Background

The Canadian Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) is a joint initiative between Environment and Health Canada (EC/HC) to assess and manage the risks associated with 4300 legacy substances identified through the categorization of the Domestic Substances List (DSL). The substances (categorized “in” according to a number of factors including predicted inherent toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulative potential, potential for human exposure, and international classifications) were prioritized for action into high (500), medium (2600), and low (1200) categories.

The data-gathering activities of the 200 high priority substances, under the Industry Challenge, are now complete and final risk assessments have been published for most of these substances. Risk management tools are being developed for those substances that meet the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) toxic criteria. The additional 160 substances grouped under the Petroleum Sector Stream Approach have been assessed in parallel to the Industry Challenge.

Moving into the next chapter of CMP activities, being referred to as CMP-2, EC and HC are now beginning to actively address the remaining 3800 substances that were categorized into the medium- and low- priority groupings. They are working to group substances by chemical class, chemical structure, mode of action, industry sector, and/or use profile to enable efficient risk assessment. The action plan to assess the CMP-2 substances will be based on lessons learned from the first 3 years of CMP. Stakeholders and the public have been told that they will know when to expect requests for information and assessment decisions.

Industry has played an important role in the success of the CMP. Stakeholders need to continue to ensure that science-based decisions are given due consideration in the assessment and management of priority substances. By working with the government to explore and assess opportunities for innovative risk-assessment approaches and innovative risk-assessment approaches, industry can join hands with the government to ensure that effective policies for environmentally-sustainable economic growth are designed and implemented.

Need Help?

Intertek Cantox Chemicals Group recognizes that the CMP has triggered the need for much industry effort to review, and respond to, substance-specific reporting requirements, draft assessment reports, and proposed risk-management controls. This can be a difficult task for industries trying to address these increasing demands with fewer in-house resources.

Intertek Cantox's experts can support your efforts to address these regulatory and scientific challenges in a manner that addresses your market needs. We offer the following CMP-related support:

• Surveillance…Updating you on the status of all substances being assessed or managed under the CMP;
   
• Interpretation…Determining your obligations to respond to s.71 Notice requirements including those issued under the Challenge, the PSSA, and the DSL IU;
   
• Documentation…Preparing responses to mandatory and voluntary survey questionnaires;
   
• Science…Provide additional technical input into the assessment process;
   
• Intelligence…Informing you of any relevant draft and final Risk Assessment notices and proposed Risk Management measures;
   
• Smart Planning...Providing strategic advice about how screening assessment reports and the decisions proposed in risk management scope documents may impact your business; and
   
• Consultation…Work with the regulatory authorities on matters relating to the proposed hazard-assessment outcomes and risk management measures for your substances.
   

The Cantox Chemicals Group offers you a wealth of experience and the practical knowledge derived from several decades working in, and for, the chemical industry. Let us help your company do the right thing, the right way, the first time.

Contact our Chemicals Consultants:  chemicals@cantox.com