Proposed Chemical Code; Ethers Screening Assessment

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice (published February 4, 2023) includes three Environment items: a proposed Code of Practice for the Environmentally Sound Management of Chemical Substances in the Chemicals, Plastics and Rubber Sectors open for public comment, the finalization of an administrative agreement between the Government of Canada and New Brunswick about wastewater effluent rules, and the final screening assessment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 for four ether chemicals — diethyl ether (DEE), diphenyl ether (DPE), dimethyl ether (DME) and dipropylene glycol methyl ether (DPGME) — which found no need for further action now.

What it does#

• Publishes the proposed Code of Practice for the Environmentally Sound Management of Chemical Substances in the Chemicals, Plastics and Rubber Sectors and invites feedback for 60 days after publication. Comments are to be sent to the Chemical Production Division of Environment and Climate Change Canada.
• Announces the final “Administrative Agreement between the Government of New Brunswick and the Government of Canada Regarding the Administration of the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations in New Brunswick.” The agreement is available on the Environment and Climate Change Canada website as of February 4, 2023.
• Notes that no public comments were received on the proposed administrative agreement during its public comment period.
• Publishes the final screening assessment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 for four ethers (DEE, DPE, DME, DPGME) and concludes:
  • These substances are unlikely to be causing ecological harm and are of low risk to the environment.
  • Human-health exposure estimates provide margins considered adequate for DEE, DPE and DME; DPGME is considered low-hazard.
  • Therefore, the ministers propose to take no further action at this time under the Act for these substances.
• The assessment reports past Canadian manufacture and import quantities. For example, reported manufacture in 2011 included 100,000 kg to 1,000,000 kg of DME and 10,000 kg to 100,000 kg of DPGME; reported imports ranged roughly 487,199 kg to 1,287,772 kg across the group.

Who's affected#

• Companies in the chemicals, plastics and rubber sectors would be the primary audience for the proposed Code of Practice.
• Manufacturers, importers and distributors of the four ethers (DEE, DPE, DME, DPGME). The assessment lists uses in things like air fresheners, vehicle manufacturing solvents, cleaners, fuels, paints, food-contact materials, cosmetics and some drugs.
• Municipalities and wastewater system operators in New Brunswick, who are directly affected by how the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations are administered under the new administrative agreement.
• Consumers may notice indirect effects because these substances are used in many consumer products. The notice does not create new restrictions on consumer products.

Why it matters#

• The proposed Code of Practice is a chance for industry and the public to shape recommended practices for handling chemicals in several large sectors. Comments must be submitted within 60 days if people want to weigh in.
• The administrative agreement with New Brunswick clarifies who will administer and enforce wastewater effluent rules in that province. That affects how wastewater limits are applied and enforced locally.
• The screening assessment tells the public and businesses that federal experts judged these four ether substances to pose low ecological and human-health risk at reported levels. That means Canada is not moving to regulate them under section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 right now, though monitoring and re-evaluation can occur if new information appears.