Avermectin B1 Manufacture and Import Conditions

Summary#

This notice publishes Ministerial Condition No. 22083 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 that lets one company (the “notifier”) manufacture or import the substance avermectin B1, 4″-(acetylamino)-4″-deoxy-, (4″R)-, CAS Registry Number 123997-26-2 under strict conditions. The ministers suspected the substance may be toxic, so the permission is limited and comes with rules on uses, disposal, record-keeping and spill reporting. The conditions came into force on July 21, 2025.

What it does#

• Allows the notifier to manufacture or import the named substance only for:
  • making a drug that will be exported outside Canada, or
  • making or selling a drug approved under the Food and Drugs Act for treating domestic animals and livestock.
• Prohibits releasing the substance or any waste that contains it into the environment.
• Requires the notifier to collect waste containing the substance and either:
  • incinerate it according to local law, or
  • dispose of it in an engineered hazardous waste landfill facility according to local law.
• Requires immediate action and notification if any release to the environment happens, including contacting enforcement officers or the provincial 24-hour emergency phone service listed under the Release and Environmental Emergency Notification Regulations.
• Before transferring the substance or its waste to another person, the notifier must:
  • give the recipient written notice of these conditions, and
  • get written confirmation that the recipient was informed and will follow the rules.
• Record-keeping rules for the notifier:
  • keep records of uses and quantities, and who the substance or waste was transferred to;
  • create records within 30 days after the information becomes available;
  • update transfer-address information within 30 days of learning of a change;
  • keep records in English, French or both, at the notifier’s principal place of business in Canada (or their Canadian representative) for at least five years;
  • electronic records must be in a readable electronic format.
• The conditions are directed at the person who provided prescribed information about the substance on March 26, 2025 (the “notifier”).

Who's affected#

• The primary party affected is the notifier (the company or person who provided required information on March 26, 2025).
• Companies that might manufacture or import avermectin B1 for export or for animal drugs.
• Anyone who would receive the substance or its waste from the notifier (they must be told the rules and agree in writing).
• Operators of incinerators and hazardous waste landfills that would accept this waste under the stated requirements.
• Provincial emergency responders and federal enforcement officers who would be notified in the event of a release.

If it is unclear who the notifier is from this notice, that information is not provided in the text.

Why it matters#

• It allows a controlled pathway for a potentially toxic chemical to be made or brought into Canada, rather than banning it outright.
• The limits on use (export or approved animal drugs), strict disposal rules, and record-keeping are meant to reduce the chance of environmental contamination or human exposure.
• Businesses dealing with this substance will face extra paperwork, disposal costs, and liability for any release.
• Neighbours, workers, and local communities gain some protection because releases must be reported quickly and waste must be destroyed or sent to specialized facilities.