Import Controls Updated for CWC Schedule 1A

Summary#

The Order Amending the Import Control List: SOR/2022-161 updates Canada’s import controls to add certain chemicals now listed on the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Schedule 1A. The order took effect on June 24, 2022 and was published in the Canada Gazette on July 6, 2022.

What it does#

• Adds one toxic chemical and three families of toxic chemicals (the new CWC Schedule 1A entries) to subsection 74(1) of the Import Control List.
• Makes three editorial corrections to paragraph numbering and wording so the English and French texts match:
  • Fixes the English text of paragraph 74(2)(b) to match the CWC wording.
  • Corrects the French spelling in paragraph 74(3)(b).
  • Changes the English version of subsection 74(7) from “and” to “or” so it matches the French and the intended meaning (covering mixtures that contain items from either or both subsections).
• Specifies the order comes into force on the day it was registered (June 24, 2022).

Who's affected#

• Importers or anyone seeking to bring the newly listed chemicals into Canada.
• Global Affairs Canada, which issues import permits for controlled goods.
• Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which enforce the import controls.
• In practice, impact is likely very small because Schedule 1A chemicals have no known general industrial uses and imports are rare. The government notes only two entities (both part of the Government of Canada) currently hold licences to possess Schedule 1A chemicals.

Why it matters#

• Ensures Canada follows its international obligation under the Chemical Weapons Convention and aligns its import controls with other CWC member states.
• Clarifies the legal text so customs and enforcement agencies apply the same rules in English and French.
• For most people and businesses this will have little day-to-day effect because the added chemicals are tightly restricted and rarely imported; but it matters for national compliance, border screening, and for any organization that might legally handle such substances under special licences.