On March 17, 2021, the Cross-border Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations were published in Canada Gazette, Part II (CGII). The Regulations will come into force on October 31, 2021. A period of approximately six months between the final publication of the Regulations and the coming into force will allow industry to familiarize themselves with the regulatory requirements and to obtain necessary permits for any newly regulated waste or material.
The Regulations repeal three existing regulations and replace them with one new regulatory title, which results in a net decrease of two regulatory titles. The Regulations will repeal, combine and update the requirements of the Export and Import Regulations, the Interprovincial Movement Regulations, and the PCB Waste Export Regulations into one regulatory title.
The objectives of the regulations are to:
- consolidate and streamline the requirements set out in the Export and Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Materials Regulations (EIHWHRMR), the Interprovincial Movement of Hazardous Waste Regulations and the PCB Waste Export Regulations, 1996;
- provide the flexibility required to more efficiently implement the electronic movement tracking system under development;
- adjust the scope and harmonize the definitions of hazardous waste and hazardous recyclable material; and
- improve the management of permits and improve its administration.
There will be a transition period from the EIHWHRMR to the regulations that will allow regulatees and other interested parties to familiarize themselves with the regulatory requirements, as well as allow sufficient time for new regulatees to notify and obtain a permit prior to the regulations coming into force. Further information will be available on the Department’s website. Permit holders are encouraged to consult this information and to ensure they allow sufficient time for the processing of any notifications.
In April 2021, ECCC will be offering information webinars in both English and French on the regulations. The purpose of these sessions is to provide stakeholders with an overview of the regulations, followed by a question and answer period.
The information sessions will be delivered on the following dates and times:
English – April 21: 1:00 to 3:00 pm
French – April 22: 1:00 to 3:00 pm
If you would like to participate in one of these sessions, send an email with your preferred date to ec.mt-tm.ec@canada.ca. A confirmation email will then be sent to you with the webinar details. Space is limited to 200 participants per session and will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Additional information sessions may be scheduled as needed.