International Cooperation

Canada's leadership in sharing expertise in science, technical and policy matters and in working towards regulatory cooperation with other international jurisdictions is demonstrated by the country's involvement in various initiatives on the subject of new substances. These initiatives include two cooperative arrangements, one with the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) of Australia, Environment Canada and Health Canada, and one with the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States, Environment Canada and Health Canada (known as the Four Corners Arrangement (4CA)). The New Substances Program is involved with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) New Industrial Chemicals Task Force. Through Canada's participation in these and other international activities, the New Substances Program is rising to the challenges of a more global approach to chemical management that incorporates knowledge sharing in science, regulations and policies pertaining to new substances.

International Strategy

The New Substances Program is directing its efforts whereby Canada works

• with other countries to find common ways of doing business that will improve decision-making and increase efficiency about new chemicals and polymers in Canada and internationally. Regulatory cooperation with other international jurisdictions in the area of new substances will remain on our agenda for years to come. TheFinding Common Ground : An International Strategy for Canada's New Substances Program (Chemicals and Polymers) presents the guiding principles, objectives and strategies and expected results from the New Substances Program's involvement in international activities. It also describes some of the challenges and opportunities associated with international activities.
• Finding Common Ground: An International Strategy for Canada's New Substances Program (Chemicals and Polymers) (PDF; 383 KB)
  
  
• The New Substances Program's International Activities Inventory (PDF; 32 KB)

Cooperation with Australia

• Cooperative Arrangement between the Commonwealth of Australia, as represented by the Director, National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) of Australia and the Department of the Environment of Canada and the Department of Health of Canada, on the Subject of Sharing Information on New Industrial Chemicals (PDF; 29 KB)



• Appendix 1 - 5 (PDF; 33 KB)


• New Substances Program Advisory Note 2007-09: Australia Recognizes Canada as a "Competent Authority" Under its Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989 (PDF; 22 KB)
  
  

Cooperation with the United States of America

• The Information Note on the bilateral "Consultations on Substance Management" (COSM) meeting (PDF; 36 KB)
  
  
• New Substances Notification Advisory Note 2004-02 - Revisions to the Arrangement for Sharing of Information between the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and Environment Canada (EC) and Health Canada (HC) (Four Corners Arrangement) (PDF; 26 KB)
  
  
• Cooperative Arrangement Between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States And Environment Canada (EC) And Health Canada (HC) on the Subject of New Substances (a.k.a. The Four Corners Arrangement (4CA)) (PDF; 31 KB)
  
  
• Appendix 1 - International Context and Appendix 2 - Key Considerations for Confidential Business Information (PDF; 23 KB)
  
  
• The Work-Plan Under the Four Corners Arrangement. (PDF; 27 KB)
  
  
• Proposed administrative procedure for data sharing and forms under the "4 Corners" agreement (PDF; 58 KB)
  
  
• Brief History of the Four Corners Arrangement (4CA) (PDF; 20 KB)

United Nations Initiatives:

• The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)
  
  
• The U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
  
  
• The U.N. Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP)
  
  
• The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS)
  
  
• The Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC)

OECD Chemicals Programme:

• The OECD Chemicals Programme
  
  

• Development of Principles, Methods and Other Practical Instruments:

  • Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
    
    
  • Test Guidelines
    
    
  • Harmonization of Classification and Labelling
    
    

• Chemicals Assessment:

  • High Production Volume Chemicals (HPV)
    
    

• Chemicals Management:

  • Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD)
    
    
  • Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response