Two Chemicals Added to Domestic Substances List

Summary#

Order 2026-87-04-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List adds two chemicals to the Domestic Substances List and keeps reporting rules for certain new uses. The order came into force when registered on May 12, 2026 and was published in the Canada Gazette on June 3, 2026.

What it does#

• Adds two substances to the Domestic Substances List:
  • CAS 175283-06-4 (a specific polymer) and CAS 2529890-37-5 (alkaness, C4–8, branched and linear).
• Keeps the Significant New Activity (SNAc) reporting requirements for these substances. That means companies must notify and provide data before starting certain new uses.
• Key notification triggers in the order:
  • Use in a consumer product or a cosmetic at a concentration of 1.0% by weight or more, if the product releases or sprays particles of ≤ 10 μm.
  • Import of such products in a calendar year in a total quantity greater than 10 kg.
  • For each proposed activity, a notification (SNAN) and specified test information must be provided at least 90 days before the activity begins.
  • The government will assess the information within 90 days after it is received.
• Exemptions and limits:
  • Activities that are only for research and development, site-limited intermediates, or export-only products are not considered significant new activities.
  • Uses already regulated under certain other federal laws (for example, pest control or fertilizers) or incidental impurities/mixtures may be excluded in some cases.
  • If the substance is already contained in a consumer product or cosmetic at the time of transfer, recipients in some cases do not need a separate notification.

Who's affected#

• Companies that manufacture, import, formulate, or sell:
  • consumer products (especially sprays or aerosols),
  • cosmetics,
  • or any product that might contain these two substances at ≥ 1.0% by weight.
• Importers who bring in more than 10 kg per year of such products.
• Test labs and firms that prepare safety data needed for a Significant New Activity Notification.
• Government departments that assess notifications, including the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health.
• Consumers are indirectly affected if manufacturers change product formulations or limit certain uses to avoid the notification requirement.

Why it matters#

• Adding the substances to the Domestic Substances List is largely administrative. It means they are no longer treated as "new" under the New Substances Notification Regulations. The government says this can make access easier for businesses.
• Keeping the SNAc rules matters because it forces further review before certain new uses can start. That gives regulators a chance to require tests or controls before a product with these substances (especially sprays that produce tiny particles) reaches the market.
• For businesses, the order can mean extra testing and waiting time (and related costs) if they want to start the specified new activities. For the public, it helps ensure potential inhalation or other health risks are checked before wider use.