NPRI reporting requirements for 2025–2027

Summary#

This is a notice from Environment and Climate Change Canada under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 that updates who must report to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) for the years 2025, 2026 and 2027. Facilities that meet the criteria must submit their 2025 data by June 1, 2026, 2026 data by June 1, 2027, and 2027 data by June 1, 2028.

What it does#

• Updates the list of substances that must be reported to the NPRI and the reporting thresholds for several groups of chemicals.
• Adds a new group for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and dozens of other specific chemicals.
• Clarifies which facilities must report (for example, based on hours worked, certain activities, or production and discharge volumes).
• Keeps the rule that Environment and Climate Change Canada intends to publish much of the information sent in, but allows businesses to ask for confidential treatment in limited cases.
• Requires reporting through Environment and Climate Change Canada’s online Single Window system, and keeps record-keeping requirements at the facility or principal place of business for three years.

Key specific changes added or moved to the NPRI list (examples):

• A new Part 1, Group C with 163 PFAS added. Facilities must report each listed PFAS if they use 1 kg or more at 0.1% concentration or higher.
• Triarylmethane dyes (added: Basic Violet 3, Basic Violet 4, Basic Blue 7, MAPBAP Acetate) added with a threshold of 100 kg and 1% concentration.
• A group of 20 benzothiazoles (including 2-mercaptobenzothiazole) added with a combined threshold of 100 kg and 0.1% concentration.
• 92 long-chain aliphatic amines added with a threshold of 5,000 kg and 0.1% concentration.
• Free cyanide, cyanide salts and cyanide complexes added with a threshold of 1,000 kg and 0.1% concentration; hydrogen cyanide moved into the same group with the same threshold.
• Ethylene oxide moved into Part 1, Group B with a threshold of 1 kg and 0.1%, and reporting now explicitly covers use for education and training.
• Various thresholds and reporting rules for air pollutants (for example PM2.5 threshold 0.3 t, PM10 0.5 t, total volatile organic compounds 10 t) remain or are clarified in the schedules.
• Penalties for non‑compliance are restated (see “Who's affected” for figures).

If a facility reported for 2024 but believes it no longer meets reporting criteria for 2025 (or similarly for subsequent years), it must notify the Minister and explain why by the relevant June 1 deadline.

Who's affected#

• Owners and operators of industrial, commercial and other facilities that meet the NPRI criteria. That includes, for example:
  • Manufacturing plants, chemical users and processors.
  • Mines, quarries and pits with large production (e.g. 500,000 tonnes or more).
  • Wastewater collection systems discharging 10,000 m3/day or more.
  • Incinerators that burn 26 tonnes or more of certain wastes.
  • Pipeline installations and many oil and gas sites.
  • Electricity generation units (reporting has special rules for units 25 MW and larger).
• Facilities that use or make any of the newly listed substances (for example PFAS, the dyes, benzothiazoles, long-chain amines, cyanides, or ethylene oxide) and meet the mass/concentration thresholds.
• Companies that must keep records for three years and submit data through the Single Window system.
• The public and researchers who use NPRI data — the notice confirms the government intends to publish much of the reported information.

Penalties:

• The notice reminds readers about fines under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 for failing to comply or for providing false information: up to $1,000,000 for an individual and $6,000,000 for a corporation for a first offence under one offence provision; other offence provisions carry fines up to $100,000 (individual) and $500,000 (corporation) for a first offence. (Maximum fines double for repeat offences.)

Why it matters#

• The NPRI is Canada’s public inventory of industrial pollutant releases, disposals and recycling. Expanding the list — especially adding many PFAS and other chemicals — means more information about potential sources of persistent or toxic substances will be available.
• Communities near industrial sites, researchers, and regulators can use the data to track pollution trends, identify local sources of concern, and push for reductions.
• Businesses that newly meet thresholds will need to start or change monitoring and record-keeping. That can mean new costs and administrative work, but also clearer regulatory expectations.
• The notice makes deadlines clear and reminds reporters that data are largely public and that failing to report, or reporting false data, can lead to large fines. If you think the notice may apply to your facility, consult the NPRI guidance on the Environment and Climate Change Canada website.