Add P Flag to 220 Polymers

Summary#

The federal government published a notice of intent to add the letter P to the identifiers of 220 polymers on the Domestic Substances List. The change signals that the assessed forms of those polymers met the reduced regulatory requirement (RRR) criteria; any other forms that do not meet RRR would need a separate assessment before being made in or imported into Canada. Comments are invited for 120 days from the notice (published February 14, 2026).

What it does#

• Proposes the Proposed Order 2026-66-11-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List to add the letter P after the identifiers of 220 polymers already on the list.
• Marks those listed entries as the RRR form of the polymer under the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers).
• Makes clear that only the assessed, RRR forms are treated as listed; if someone wants to make or import a non-RRR form of any of these polymers above the regulatory thresholds, they must submit the required notification information so it can be assessed first.
• Invites public comment for 120 days. Comments can be sent online, by email to Environment and Climate Change Canada (substances@ec.gc.ca), or by mail. The annex to the notice lists the specific substance identifiers covered.

Who's affected#

• Chemical manufacturers and importers who make, use, or bring polymers into Canada — especially those dealing with any of the listed 220 polymer identifiers.
• Downstream users (formulators, product manufacturers) who rely on imported polymers may be indirectly affected if suppliers need to notify or change what they supply.
• Regulators and environmental/health groups tracking new-substance notifications.
• The notice itself lists the exact identifiers in an annex; if you work with specific polymers, check that list to see if one applies to you.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies which polymer forms are considered low‑concern (RRR) and which are not. That matters because non‑RRR forms must be reviewed before being manufactured or imported above set thresholds.
• For businesses, this can mean new paperwork, delays, or testing if they handle non‑RRR versions of these polymers.
• For the public and environment, the change helps ensure that polymer forms that might pose different risks are assessed before they enter the Canadian market.
• This is a notice of intent — not a final change. The government will consider comments and publish a final order in the Canada Gazette, Part II before the amendment takes effect.