Non‑domestic Substances List Changes and SAR Guidance

Summary#

• The Department of the Environment published several small orders that change entries on the Non‑domestic Substances List under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Some specific chemical identifiers are being added or removed, and the timing for when those changes take effect is given.
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada released two updated technical documents — RSS-102.SAR.MEAS, issue 2 and RSS-102.SAR.SIM, issue 1 — that set procedures for measuring and simulating Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for devices operating from 100 kHz to 6 GHz. These documents became official on August 15, 2025.

What it does#

• Order 2025-66-04-02 Amending the Non-domestic Substances List (signed August 27, 2025) adds one substance to Part II of the Non‑domestic Substances List: 19739-7 (listed with its chemical name in the Gazette). This order takes effect on the day it is published in the Canada Gazette (the Gazette notice is dated September 6, 2025).
• Order 2025-87-04-02 Amending the Non-domestic Substances List deletes 27026-61-5 from Part I. That deletion comes into force on the same day as the related domestic-list order (the Gazette item says it will take effect when Order 2025-87-04-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List comes into force).
• Order 2025-87-06-02 Amending the Non-domestic Substances List deletes 14802-03-0 and 1204391-75-2 from Part I. Its coming-into-force depends on Order 2025-87-06-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List.
• Order 2025-87-07-02 Amending the Non-domestic Substances List deletes 19045-79-5 and 68442-85-3 from Part I. Its coming-into-force depends on Order 2025-87-07-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List.
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada published:
  • RSS-102.SAR.MEAS, issue 2 — measurement procedures for assessing SAR compliance for equipment operating in the 100 kHz to 6 GHz band.
  • RSS-102.SAR.SIM, issue 1 — computational simulation procedures for the same frequency range.
  • Both documents are now official and available on ISED’s website. The department invites comments via its standard change request form.

Who's affected#

• Companies that make, import, sell, or test chemicals in Canada — especially those handling the specific substances listed by their identifiers (for example 19739-7, 27026-61-5, 14802-03-0, 1204391-75-2, 19045-79-5, 68442-85-3) — may notice changes to which federal list a substance appears on.
• Regulatory, compliance, and environmental consulting teams that track the Non‑domestic Substances List and the Domestic Substances List under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
• Manufacturers, testers, and certification bodies for wireless and radio devices that need to demonstrate compliance with SAR limits for equipment operating from 100 kHz to 6 GHz.
• The general public indirectly, to the extent these lists and SAR procedures relate to chemical oversight and the safety testing of wireless devices.

Why it matters#

• Which list a chemical appears on affects how it is tracked and managed under federal chemical laws. Businesses that work with the named substances may need to check whether their regulatory responsibilities change when a substance is moved between lists.
• The updated RSS-102 measurement and simulation procedures set the technical rules for how SAR is tested and modelled. That matters for companies that design and certify phones, wearables, and other wireless devices, and for consumers who want assurance about how compliance is tested.
• The Gazette notice gives the official text and the dates that the changes or documents became effective or will become effective. If you work with these chemicals or with device certification, you may want to read the full notices or contact the relevant department for details.