No Further Action: Used Oils and Imidazolines

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice (published December 26, 2020) covers two things under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999: a short order that updates a federal chemical list and final screening assessment decisions for two groups of chemicals. The assessments conclude these substances do not meet the Act’s danger thresholds and the ministers are proposing no further action at this time.

What it does#

• Order 2020-87-15-02 Amending the Non-domestic Substances List deletes two CAS numbers (3084-40-0 and 31727-13-6) from Part I of the Non-domestic Substances List.
  • This Order takes effect on the same day that a related order updating the Domestic Substances List (Order 2020-87-15-01) comes into force.
• Publishes final screening assessment decisions (no further action proposed) for:
  • The Used and Re-refined Oils Group — 8 substances often generated during used-oil reprocessing and re‑refining (examples include refined used oil, used vacuum gas oil, used oil residue, clay-treated used oil and various used distillates). The assessment found low risk to the environment and to human health and concluded they do not meet section 64 criteria of CEPA.
  • The Substituted Alkyl Imidazolines Group — 4 substances that can be used in some consumer products (e.g., hair products, paint removers) and in industrial uses (lubricants, greases, oil and gas). The assessment found low ecological and human-health risk and concluded they do not meet section 64 criteria of CEPA.

Who's affected#

• Companies that collect, re-refine or reprocess used oils, and businesses that make or use the resulting intermediate or re‑refined oil products.
• Manufacturers, importers and formulators that handle the four Substituted Alkyl Imidazolines (in industry or in some consumer products).
• Regulators and compliance officers who track lists of controlled or reported chemicals.
• The general public and environmental groups interested in chemical safety — mainly as informed observers, since the assessments say no further action is needed now.

Why it matters#

• The screening results mean the government is not planning new federal controls or restrictions for these specific substances at this time. That affects business planning for industries that use or process these chemicals.
• Removing two CAS numbers from the Non‑domestic Substances List is an administrative update that matters to companies and regulators who monitor which substances are on federal lists for reporting and oversight.
• For the public, the notices show these chemicals were reviewed and judged to pose low risk under current use and exposure patterns. If circumstances change (for example, new evidence or increased use), the situation could be reassessed.