Canadian Environmental Protection Act

Order Amending Schedule 1 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

 

Amendment:

 

Item 65 of Schedule 1 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, is amended by striking out “and” at the end of the paragraph and by adding the following after a paragraph:

 

 

• • (z.19) 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-3-methoxy-propane (HFE-7000);

 

• • (z.20) 3-ethoxy-1,1,1,2,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-dodecafluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl) hexane (HFE-7500);

 

• • (z.21) 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (HFC-227ea);

 

• • (z.22) methyl formate (HCOOCH₃);

 

• • (z.23) t-butyl acetate;

 

• • (z.24) 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5-decafluoro-3-methoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-pentane (HFE-7300);

 

• • (z.25) propylene carbonate;

 

• • (z.26) dimethyl carbonate;

 

• • (z.27) trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze);

 

• • (z.28) HCF₂OCF₂H (HFE-134);

 

• • (z.29) HCF₂OCF₂OCF₂H (HFE-236cal2);

 

• • (z.30) HCF₂OCF₂CF₂OCF₂H (HFE-338pcc13);

 

• • (z.31) HCF₂OCF₂OCF₂CF₂OCF₂H;

 

• • (z.32) 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf);

 

• • (z.33) trans 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-ene [HCFO-1233zd(E)]; and

 

• • (z.34) 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol.

 

 

The Issues:

 

Many of the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) contribute to the formation of the ground-level ozone, which is a component of smog. Because of this, they were added to the list of the Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

 

Several of the compounds were excluded from the List of Toxic Substances by the way of an exclusion list, when found that they did not significantly contribute to the formation of the ground-level ozone. This exclusion list is similar to that of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA).

 

Between the years of 2004 and 2014, the U.S EPA conducted many scientific assessments. They found that 16 additional VOCS contribute negligibly to the formation of ground level ozone, and therefore they have been included in the list of compounds that are excluded from the regulatory definition of VOCs.

 

In Canada’s List of Toxic Substances, the VOC definition on the use of the 16 compounds does not reflect the conclusions of the assessments regarding the underlying risks with respect to the ground-level ozone. However, the definition of VOCs are not aligned between Canada and the U.S.

 

The Objectives: 

 

The objective to Order Amending Schedule 1 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, is to exclude the VOCS from the List of Toxic Substances that fail to contribute significantly to the formation of the ground-level ozone. The amendment will also try and align the list of compounds and regulatory definitions of VOCs in the Canada and the U.S.

 

For more information. please visit the Canada Gazette. Please contact Nexreg for more information for your Chemical Regulatory Services.