Influenza A (H3N2-like) Virus Added to List

Summary#

Order 2026-112-01-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List (SOR/2026-2) adds one living organism — Cold-adapted, temperature-sensitive and attenuated influenza A/Croatia/10136RV/2023 (A/H3N2 lineage)-like virus N — to Part 5 of the Domestic Substances List. The order was registered on January 13, 2026 and published in the Canada Gazette on January 28, 2026; it comes into force on the day it was registered.

What it does#

• Adds the living organism Cold-adapted, temperature-sensitive and attenuated influenza A/Croatia/10136RV/2023 (A/H3N2 lineage)-like virus N to Part 5 (organisms) of the Domestic Substances List.
• As a result, that organism is no longer considered “new to Canada” under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and is no longer subject to the New Substances Notification Regulations (Organisms).
• The government says this is an administrative change. The order does not create new regulatory requirements and does not remove any obligations under other laws.

Who's affected#

• The person or company that manufactured or imported this organism in Canada and provided the required information to the government.
• Laboratories, research groups, or businesses that work with, plan to import, or plan to manufacture this specific organism may notice the change in its regulatory status.
• Regulators at Environment and Health departments who track substances on the Domestic Substances List.

If it is unclear whether a specific activity is affected, the Canada Gazette notice points to Environment and Climate Change Canada contacts for questions.

Why it matters#

• Being on the Domestic Substances List means the organism is no longer treated as a “new” substance for the purposes of the federal new-substances rules. That can make it administratively simpler for the parties already assessed to continue their activities.
• This is not a safety endorsement. The order follows an assessment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, but other rules or approvals (federal, provincial, or sector-specific) may still apply to the organism or activities involving it.
• For the general public, the change mainly affects the companies and labs that handle the organism rather than creating new public obligations or costs.