About tetrachloroethylene (PERC) regulations

This page is about the regulation of tetrachloroethylene (PERC) for its use and sale in the dry cleaning industry. These Regulations also include reporting requirements for the importation and recycling of PERC for any purpose. PERC is also regulated for use and sale for solvent degreasing under the Solvent Degreasing Regulations.

PERC was added to the first Priority Substances List (PSL1) on February 11, 1989. The PSL1 identified substances to be assessed on a priority basis to determine if they are toxic and pose a risk to the health of Canadians or to the environment. Results of this review were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on February 5, 1994. The review concluded that PERC was entering the environment in amounts that may be harmful to the environment.

PERC was added to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 on March 29, 2000. The Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations became law on February 27, 2003, and were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on March 12, 2003. The purpose of the Regulations is to reduce PERC releases to the environment from dry cleaning facilities.

These reductions are met by requiring more efficient dry cleaning machines, by minimizing spills of PERC, and by managing the collection and disposal of residue and waste water that contain PERC. These regulations also gather information to monitor the import of PERC for all uses.

You can read the current regulations and background documents or find more information from the appropriate regional Environment Canada contact.

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