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Substances Lists

The Domestic Substances List (DSL) is the sole basis for determining whether a substance is new for the purposes of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). Substances on the DSL do not require notification unless they are proposed for a Significant New Activity (SNAc) as indicated on the DSL. Substances not appearing on the DSL are considered to be new to Canada and are subject to notification under the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemical and Polymers) and New Substances Notification Regulations (Organisms) of CEPA 1999.

The Non-domestic Substances List (NSDL) specifies substances that are not on the DSL but are in commercial use internationally. As a basis for this list, Environment Canada used the United States Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Substances on the NSDL are subject to notification under the Regulations of CEPA 1999 but may require different information in the New Substance Notification (NSN) packages.