Ketones assessment; rare-earth guideline consultation

Summary#

• The Canada Gazette published two Environment notices on May 16, 2026: the availability of the Draft Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines for rare earth elements and the publication of a summary assessment of ten ketone chemicals.
• The ketone assessment concludes that methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) meet the health-related test in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and the government proposes follow-up actions; both notices open public comment from May 16, 2026 to July 15, 2026.

What it does#

• Makes the Draft Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines for rare earth elements available for review and asks for public comment on the scientific basis for those guidelines.
• Publishes the assessment summary for the “Ketones Group” (10 substances) and sets out the government’s next steps:
  • Finds that methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) meet one or more of the tests in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and proposes to recommend adding them to Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Act.
  • Proposes to regulate MEK and MIBK to restrict certain uses in consumer products and releases a risk management approach document to guide that work.
  • Proposes to add 2,4-Pentanedione (2,4-PD) to the List of substances capable of becoming toxic described in section 75.1 because it could become a future concern.
  • Says the other seven ketones in the group will have “no further action” at this time.
• Invites written comments on the ketones risk management approach and on the rare-earth guidelines during the stated comment period.

Who's affected#

• People and groups likely to notice these actions:
  • Companies that make, import, sell, or use rare earth elements (mining, manufacturing, high-tech supply chains).
  • Manufacturers, importers and retailers of products that contain ketones — for example, paint and coating makers, adhesives, solvents, cleaners, and some consumer DIY products.
  • Workers and occupational-health professionals in industries where MEK and MIBK are used.
  • Environmental and public-health organizations, provincial/territorial governments, and Indigenous governments invited to consult.
  • Consumers who use products such as paint strippers, thinners, spray paints, adhesives or other products that may contain MEK or MIBK.
• If it’s unclear who will be affected by a specific part of the proposals, the notices ask for feedback to help decide next steps.

Why it matters#

• The rare-earth guidelines will give federal benchmarks that could influence environmental monitoring, cleanup decisions, and how industries manage releases of those metals.
• For the ketones:
  • If MEK and MIBK are added to Schedule 1 and regulated, some consumer products could face new limits, labelling, or restrictions — which could change what is available on store shelves and how workplaces manage exposures.
  • Workers and nearby residents could see changes aimed at reducing exposure to these chemicals.
  • Adding 2,4-PD to the follow-up list means regulators will watch that chemical more closely in case its use or exposure grows.
• There is a chance to influence the outcomes: the government is seeking public and stakeholder comments through the comment period of May 16, 2026 to July 15, 2026.