Octanamide N-hydroxy Import Conditions

Summary#

The federal government used the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 to allow the manufacture or import of the chemical octanamide, N‑hydroxy- (CAS RN 7377-03-9), but only under specific conditions. The conditions ban its use in cosmetics and require written agreements and record-keeping; they came into force on November 13, 2024.

What it does#

• Allows the person who notified the government on September 19, 2024 (called the “notifier”) to manufacture or import the substance octanamide, N‑hydroxy- (CAS RN 7377-03-9), subject to rules.
• Prohibits the notifier from importing or making the substance to be used in, or contained in, a cosmetic as defined in the Food and Drugs Act.
• Requires the notifier to transfer the substance only to people who agree in writing to follow the no-cosmetics rule.
• Requires the notifier to tell any recipient in writing about these conditions and to get written confirmation that the recipient understood and agrees to comply before the first transfer.
• Requires keeping records (paper or electronic) showing:
  • how the substance is used;
  • quantities manufactured, imported, bought, distributed, sold, and used;
  • the name and address of every person it was transferred to; and
  • the written confirmations from recipients.
• Requires those records to be created within 30 days of when the information becomes available, updated within 30 days of address changes, kept at the notifier’s principal place of business in Canada (or their Canadian representative) and retained for at least five years. Electronic records must be readable.

Who's affected#

• The unnamed notifier (the person who provided information to the government on September 19, 2024). The public notice does not give their identity.
• Companies that import, manufacture, sell, or handle octanamide, N‑hydroxy- (CAS RN 7377-03-9) — especially chemical suppliers and downstream users.
• Cosmetic manufacturers and distributors, who are explicitly barred from using or importing the substance as part of cosmetics.
• Regulators and inspectors who check compliance with chemical controls and record-keeping rules.

Why it matters#

• The government suspects the substance may be harmful. Letting it be made or brought into Canada under strict conditions aims to limit risks while allowing controlled commercial use.
• The ban on cosmetic uses protects consumers from potential exposure through personal-care products.
• The written-agreement and record-keeping rules create a paper trail. That makes it easier for authorities to trace where the chemical goes and to spot non‑compliant users.
• If you work with chemicals, this changes who can legally handle this specific substance and adds paperwork and storage obligations. If you’re a consumer, the rule reduces the chance the substance will appear in cosmetics.