On October 3, 2011, the Ministers of Environment and Health announced the launch of the next phase of Canada's Chemicals Management Plan, building on successes and lessons learned since 2006, when the Plan was first launched. The primary emphasis on this phase will be on (incrementally) meeting the 2020 commitment to assess all priority existing substances and any resulting risk management requirements. To achieve this goal, work will focus on the following key priorities:

• Update of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act(1999) inventory of existing substances in-commerce,
• Assessment of approximately 500 substances across 9 categories or groups including:
  • Aromatic azo- and benzidine-based substances
  • Boron-containing substances
  • Certain internationally classified substances with potential for exposure to individuals in Canada
  • Cobalt-containing substances
  • Methylenediphenyl diisocyanates and diamines (MDI/MDA)
  • Certain organic flame retardants
  • Phthalates
  • Selenium-containing substances
  • Substituted diphenylamines
  • Approximately an additional 1,000 substances will also be addressed in the next 5 years through other initiatives, including rapid screening of substances that pose little or no risk
    
• Targeted scientific research to fill information gaps,
• Monitoring and surveillance of priority substances in the environment and in humans.

For more information please visit the Chemical Substances web site.

Contact: Andrew Morel, 819-953-7066, Science and Risk Assessment