Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a notice of consultations being conducted on the proposed new regulations for import and export of asbestos. The proposed Prohibition of Asbestos and Asbestos Products Regulations and the proposed Regulations Amending the Export of Substances on the Export Control List Regulations were published in Canada Gazette, Part I, for a 75-day public comment period ending on March 22, 2018. Comments and information received during the public comment period will be considered in the development of the final regulations, targeted for publication in the fall of 2018.
The proposed Prohibition of Asbestos and Asbestos Products Regulations would prohibit the import, sale and use of asbestos, as well as the manufacture, import, sale and use of products containing asbestos, with some exceptions.
The proposed Regulations Amending the Export of Substances on the Export Control List Regulations would add new provisions to prohibit (with some exceptions) the export of asbestos and products containing asbestos, in line with the proposed Prohibition of Asbestos and Asbestos Products Regulations and ensure that Canada is compliant with its export obligations under international conventions, including the Rotterdam Convention. A proposed order to amend the Export Control List would list all forms of asbestos, making them subject to the amended regulations.
As the proposed Prohibition of Asbestos and Asbestos Products Regulations would be more stringent than existing regulatory controls under the Asbestos Products Regulations made under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, the Asbestos Products Regulations would be repealed.
Asbestos is currently on the List of Toxic Substances found in Schedule 1 to CEPA 1999, and the listing covers all 6 types of asbestos. Current regulatory controls focus on mining, some high risk consumer products, and workplace exposure. These include the Asbestos Products Regulations under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and the Asbestos Mines and Mills Release Regulations under CEPA 1999.
The proposed Prohibition of Asbestos and Asbestos Products Regulations and the related publications were released for a 75-day public comment period ending on March 22, 2018.
Learn more on Asbestos here: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/chemicals-management-plan/initiatives/asbestos.html.
Any questions or concerns contact:
Chemical Substances
c/o Health Canada | Santé Canada
A.L. 4905B
Ottawa (ON) K1A 0K9
chemicalsubstanceschimiques@hc-sc.gc.ca
Government of Canada