Unmasking 198 Confidential Substances

Summary#

The Minister of the Environment has published a notice of intent under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 to unmask the identities of 198 substances that have been listed confidentially on Part 3 of the Domestic Substances List. The proposal would move those substances to Part 1 under their Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) numbers, and it is open for public comment for 60 days from publication on August 10, 2024.

What it does#

• Deletes 198 masked entries from Part 3 of the Domestic Substances List and adds them to Part 1 under their CAS numbers.
• The action is set out in Proposed Order 2025-66-02-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List.
• The substances were first listed confidentially in 2004 or earlier, and the proposal reflects a routine review of longstanding confidentiality claims (a 10‑year review approach introduced by Environment and Climate Change Canada).
• Anyone can comment on the proposed order within 60 days. Comments can be emailed to substances@ec.gc.ca or mailed to Joliane Lavigne, Acting Director, Regulatory Operations, Policy and Emerging Sciences Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3. Phone: 1‑800‑567‑1999 (within Canada) or 819‑938‑3232 (outside Canada).
• If a business objects to revealing a substance identity, it can submit a masked name application (no fee) following the Masked Name Regulations.
• The change is not final. The department will consider comments and publish a final order in the Canada Gazette, Part II before any amendment takes effect.

Who's affected#

• Companies that manufacture, import, or sell the listed substances in Canada.
• Downstream users and product manufacturers who work with these chemicals.
• Researchers, public-interest groups, and communities that track chemical use and contamination.
• Regulators and health or environmental agencies that monitor chemicals in commerce.
• If you aren’t sure whether a substance you use is on the list, the New Substances program at Environment and Climate Change Canada can help confirm identities.

Why it matters#

• Unmasking moves previously confidential chemical names into the public record. That increases transparency about what’s in the Canadian market.
• Greater public access to substance identities can help researchers, health professionals, and communities assess exposure and potential risks.
• For businesses, it can affect confidential business information and may lead to more public or regulatory attention on specific substances.
• This is a proposal and not yet final; the government will review public comments before deciding.