Question Period Note: Chemicals Management Plan

Chemicals Management Plan

• The Government of Canada is committed to protecting Canadians and their environment from harmful substances.

• The Chemicals Management Plan is a world-leading program that assesses and manages risks from legacy chemicals as well as new chemicals prior to their entry into the Canadian market.

• Since the launch of the Chemicals Management Plan in 2006, the Government of Canada has assessed almost 4,000 substances that are in commercial use and over 100 regulations and other measures to manage their risks. The Government has also reviewed more than 6,100 notifications for new substances for pre-market assessment.

• The result for Canadians is a cleaner environment, fewer health risks, and a predictable market place.

THE CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, 1999

o The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) is an important federal law that enables Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Health Canada (HC) to protect the environment and human health from risks posed by chemical substances, including those new to Canada since 1987 (new substances), as well as the 23,000 legacy chemicals in use prior to 1987 (existing substances).

o For example, the federal government has used CEPA 1999 to introduce regulations banning asbestos (a toxic substance that has been proven to cause cancer); and to ban plastic microbeads, which contaminate Canada’s waterways and harm wildlife.

o CEPA 1999 prescribed a “prioritization” exercise in order to systematically sort the 23,000 existing substances that were already in commercial use in Canada but which were not assessed before their introduction. In 2006, the Government completed this “prioritization” exercise to identify and focus on those substances suspected to have the most dangerous properties. Some 4,300 substances were identified for further attention through the establishment of the Chemicals Management Plan.

THE CHEMICALS MANAGEMENT PLAN

o Launched in 2006, the Chemicals Management Plan protects Canadians by assessing the environmental and human health impacts of chemicals in Canada and taking action on those found to be harmful. The Government committed to address, by 2020, the 4.300 substances identified as priorities, and to manage the risks identified.

o The CMP is jointly delivered by ECCC and HC. The program is now in its third phase:
Phase 1 (CMP1, 2006-2011): ~ 1,100 substances
Phase 2 (CMP2, 2011-2016): ~ 1,650 substances
Phase 3 (CMP3, 2016-2021): ~ 1,550 substances

o Since the launch of the CMP in 2006, the Government of Canada has published risk assessments for 3,842 of 4,300 substances identified as priorities for attention by 2020; classified over 450 chemicals as being toxic to the environment and/or human health; and implemented over 100 risk management actions to address toxic substances.

Question Period notes as provided by the Department to the Minister’s Office