Draft Triclocarban Environmental Guidelines

Summary#

The Department of the Environment has posted draft Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines for triclocarban and is asking for public feedback. The notice was published in the Canada Gazette on March 25, 2023, and people can comment for 60 days after publication.

What it does#

• Announces that the draft guidelines for triclocarban are available on the Canada.ca (Chemical substances) website.
• Invites written comments on the scientific basis for the guidelines from any person within 60 days of the notice.
• Provides ways to send comments: by mail to the Executive Director, Program Development and Engagement Division, Department of the Environment (Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3), by email to substances@ec.gc.ca, or via the department’s online reporting system.
• Notes the guidelines are issued under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and that provincial, territorial and Indigenous representatives were offered consultation.

Who's affected#

• Provincial and territorial governments and Indigenous representatives invited for consultation.
• Scientists, environmental groups and others who work on water, soil or chemical monitoring.
• Members of the public and stakeholders who want to review the science behind the guidelines or who have information to share.
• If it is unclear who else will be affected by any future use of the guidelines, more specific impacts would depend on the final guideline values and how governments or regulators use them.

Why it matters#

• These guidelines set science-based reference points that help track and manage environmental risks from triclocarban.
• They can influence monitoring, cleanup priorities, and regulatory or management actions by governments.
• Public and expert feedback can affect the final wording and scientific basis of the guidelines, so this is a chance for stakeholders to provide input.