Conditions for import of nonafluoro 1-hexene

Summary#

Ministerial Condition No. 22186 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 allows the manufacture or import of the chemical 1-hexene, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-nonafluoro- (CAS 19430-93-4) but only under a set of reporting, handling and record-keeping requirements. The ministers (the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health) say they suspect the substance may be harmful, so the government is permitting limited activity while collecting more information. The conditions came into force on June 17, 2025.

What it does#

• Permits the notifier to manufacture or import the named substance only if they follow the listed conditions.
• Requires the notifier to tell the government at least 120 days before starting manufacture in Canada and to provide:
  • the anticipated annual quantity,
  • the address of the Canadian manufacturing facility,
  • exposure information (transportation and storage methods, container types, likely environmental release points, anticipated releases to municipal wastewater, disposal or destruction methods, historical/likely uses, and factors that limit exposure),
  • basic information about the manufacturing process (precursors, process type and scale, a process flow diagram, major steps and release points, and measures to prevent releases),
  • a summary of any test data or other information they already have about hazards and exposure.
• If any release to the environment or waste containing the substance occurs, the notifier must immediately stop further release, limit spread, and notify an enforcement officer or the provincial/territorial 24-hour emergency phone service as soon as possible.
• Before giving physical possession of the substance to anyone, the notifier must:
  • inform that person in writing of these ministerial conditions, and
  • obtain written confirmation that the person was informed (before the first transfer).
• Record-keeping requirements for the notifier:
  • keep records (electronic or paper) of uses, quantities manufactured/imported/purchased/distributed/sold/used, names and addresses of people who receive the substance, and the written confirmations described above;
  • create records no later than 30 days after the information becomes available;
  • update address information within 30 days of learning of a change;
  • keep records for at least 5 years at the notifier’s principal place of business in Canada (in English, French, or both);
  • electronic records must be in a readable format.

Who's affected#

• The immediate, named party is the anonymous “notifier” (the person or company that provided prescribed information on April 22, 2025). Their name is not given in this notice.
• Any company that wants to manufacture or import this specific chemical in Canada will be affected, because they can only do so under these conditions.
• People or businesses that receive physical shipments of the substance from the notifier must be told about the conditions and confirm in writing.
• The general public and environment could be affected indirectly if the substance is released; the conditions aim to reduce that risk. It’s not clear from the notice how widespread current use or imports of this substance already are.

Why it matters#

• The government is allowing controlled use of a substance it suspects could be harmful while requiring information and safeguards. That lets industry proceed in a limited way but gives regulators data to assess risk and manage future action.
• Companies planning to make, import, handle, or receive this chemical in Canada will have new administrative and reporting duties, plus strict record-keeping and quick spill-response obligations.
• For communities near manufacturing sites or transport routes, the requirements are intended to reduce the chance of unreported releases and to make it easier for authorities to respond if a release happens.