Diquat guideline and chemical notices

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice (Part I, Vol. 154, No. 27) publishes several Environment and Health items about chemicals, drinking water, and related administrative matters. It includes two ministerial conditions that allow limited manufacture or import of two specific chemicals, draft screening assessments proposing no further action on several other chemicals, and a proposed drinking-water guideline for diquat with a recommended limit of 0.05 mg/L (50 µg/L).

What it does#

• Ministerial conditions under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999:
  • Ministerial Condition No. 20287 for 2-pyrrolidinone, 1-butyl- (CAS 3470-98-2) allows the notifier to manufacture or import the substance but:
    • bans import if the substance is in any cosmetic or in any coating at concentrations greater than 8% by weight.
    • requires informing and getting written agreement from recipients about these use limits.
    • requires keeping records for five years.
    • These conditions came into force on June 24, 2020.
  • Ministerial Condition No. 20350 for amides, tall-oil fatty, N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl] (CAS 68650-79-3) allows manufacture or import only to incorporate the substance into asphalt or bitumen emulsions and:
    • limits transfers to recipients who agree to that use.
    • requires careful rinsing and specific disposal or destruction of waste and containers (incineration or disposal in an engineered hazardous waste landfill).
    • requires the notifier to inform the Minister at least 120 days before starting manufacture in Canada and to keep records for five years.
    • These conditions came into force on June 24, 2020.
• Draft screening assessments (proposed conclusions):
  • A group assessment of six naphthalene sulfonic acids and salts (the “NSAs Group”) proposes that these substances do not meet the criteria in section 64 of CEPA. A 60‑day public comment period is open.
  • A draft screening assessment for sulfurized isobutylene (CAS 68511-50-2) similarly proposes no further action. A 60‑day public comment period is open.
• Proposed drinking-water guideline:
  • Health Canada proposes a Guideline for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for diquat with a maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) of 0.05 mg/L (50 µg/L).
  • The guideline document was posted July 3, 2020, and there is a 90‑day comment period.
• Other notices in the issue:
  • Petitions to the Governor in Council about two CRTC decisions (one involving AFX Communications and Bell Canada, and another involving Koodo Mobile and petitions from the National Pensioners Federation and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre) — submissions on those petitions are due by August 4, 2020.
  • Lists of recent appointments and open Governor in Council appointment opportunities.

Who's affected#

• Manufacturers, importers and downstream users of the two named substances (chemicals used in coatings, asphalt, lubricants, etc.). They must follow the use, transfer, disposal and record-keeping rules.
• Paint, coating and cosmetic product makers — the 8% by weight limit and cosmetic ban on the first substance could affect formulations and sourcing.
• Asphalt and bitumen product manufacturers and their suppliers — the second substance is limited to use in emulsions.
• Waste managers and disposal facilities handling containers or rinsate for the second substance.
• Municipal, provincial and territorial drinking-water authorities and operators, and owners of small or private water systems (e.g., private wells) — the proposed diquat MAC could guide testing and treatment choices.
• Organizations and companies involved in the telecom petitions (AFX Communications, Bell Canada, Koodo Mobile, petitioning advocacy groups) and any stakeholders who want to comment by August 4, 2020.
• Interested members of the public, industry groups and environmental or health stakeholders who may want to submit comments during the 60‑day or 90‑day consultation periods.

Why it matters#

• The ministerial conditions let specific uses continue while imposing limits meant to reduce human and environmental exposure. Businesses using these chemicals may need to change how they import, label, transfer, dispose of, and document them.
• The proposed no‑further‑action conclusions for the screened chemicals mean the government currently sees low risk at present exposure levels. But the 60‑day comment periods give stakeholders a chance to supply more data or raise concerns.
• The proposed diquat guideline sets a concrete health-based number (0.05 mg/L (50 µg/L)) that provinces, territories and water system operators can use to evaluate and treat drinking water. If adopted, it could lead to more testing or treatment where diquat is a concern.
• The telecom petitions and appointment notices are administrative but can affect consumers (billing and toll‑free-payphone compensation issues) and public governance (who fills federal boards and tribunals).