Add “P” flag to 220 polymers

Summary#

The Minister of the Environment is proposing to amend the Domestic Substances List by adding the letter “P” to the identifiers of 220 polymers. This is a notice of intent under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and sets out a 120‑day public comment period starting February 14, 2026. The change would mark those substances as having been assessed as “reduced regulatory requirement” (RRR) polymers, and would clarify when non‑RRR forms must be reported.

What it does#

• Adds the letter “P” to the identifiers of 220 polymers on the Domestic Substances List under the proposed order Proposed Order 2026-66-11-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List.
• The “P” flag means the assessed form of the polymer met the reduced regulatory requirement (RRR) criteria. RRR polymers are considered lower concern and have fewer information requirements under the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers).
• Makes clear that only the RRR forms are on the List. If a company plans to manufacture or import a non‑RRR form of one of these polymers above the regulatory thresholds, it must submit the information required by the Regulations so the government can assess potential health or environmental risks.
• Opens a public comment period of 120 days from February 14, 2026. Comments can be submitted through Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Single Window, by email to substances@ec.gc.ca, or by mail to the department (details in the notice).
• The amendment is a proposal (a notice of intent). Any final order will be published later in Canada Gazette, Part II, and the change is not in force until then.

Who's affected#

• Chemical manufacturers and importers that make, import or sell polymers in Canada.
• Downstream businesses that use these polymers in products (e.g., industrial formulators, coatings, plastics makers), if they handle a non‑RRR form.
• Environmental and health groups tracking new‑substance oversight and reporting.
• The notice lists the specific substance identifiers (CAS numbers and some masked names) in an annex; for many entries, only an identifier is given, so it may be hard for the public to tell which consumer products use them without technical expertise.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies which polymer forms Canada already considers low risk and which forms would trigger a required assessment before manufacture or import. That reduces uncertainty for businesses about reporting duties.
• For higher‑risk (non‑RRR) forms, the change helps ensure they are reviewed by regulators before they enter the Canadian market.
• For the public, this is a technical but important step in chemical oversight: it helps the government focus assessment resources on forms that may pose greater risks while keeping lower‑risk forms subject to fewer reporting requirements.
• The notice gives stakeholders an opportunity to comment during the 120‑day window starting February 14, 2026.