Iron potassium oxide added to Domestic List

Summary#

Order 2025-87-05-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List: SOR/2025-169 adds one chemical, CAS 12022-41-2 (iron potassium oxide), to the Domestic Substances List and keeps special reporting rules for certain new uses. The order was registered on August 28, 2025 and published in the Canada Gazette on September 10, 2025.

What it does#

• Adds the substance identified by CAS 12022-41-2 (iron potassium oxide) to Part 2 of the Domestic Substances List.
• Keeps Significant New Activity (SNAc) reporting requirements for certain new uses of that substance. Key points of those requirements:
  • A use is considered a "significant new activity" if the annual quantity used falls into any of these bands: > 100 kg and ≤ 1 000 kg, > 1 000 kg and ≤ 10 000 kg, or > 10 000 kg.
  • The SNAc rules apply only if the substance’s primary particle size distribution meets one of these nanomaterial tests:
    • ≥ 10% of particles by number are 1 to 100 nm, or
    • ≥ 1% of particles by mass are 1 to 100 nm.
  • Some activities are excluded from SNAc, including research and development uses, site-limited intermediates, and products intended only for export.
  • Anyone proposing a significant new activity must notify the minister at least 90 days before starting. The notification must include information such as quantity, particle size and distribution, physical and surface properties, available toxicity and exposure data, and contact details.
  • Some required tests and measurements must follow guidance from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers).

Who's affected#

• Companies or people who make, import or use the substance CAS 12022-41-2 in Canada.
• Businesses planning to start new or larger-scale uses that meet the quantity and nanomaterial criteria above.
• Regulators and public health/environment officials who will assess any notifications.
• The order does not change current permitted uses that don’t meet the SNAc definitions; it is unclear from the order which industries currently use this specific substance.

Why it matters#

• It keeps a safety checkpoint before large-scale or nano-form uses of this chemical can begin in Canada. That means the government will get data and can assess health and environmental risks before those new activities proceed.
• For companies, routine or existing uses are not changed, but starting certain new uses will require planning to collect and submit technical data and to wait 90 days for assessment.
• Adding the substance to the Domestic Substances List also means it is no longer treated as “new” under the general New Substances Notification rules, which may simplify some routine dealings while preserving oversight for potentially riskier new uses.