AEEA Added to Significant New Activity List

Summary#

Order 2024-87-21-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List adds the chemical ethanol, 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]- (AEEA, CAS RN 111-41-1) to the part of the Domestic Substances List that triggers Significant New Activity (SNAc) reporting. The order took effect when it was registered on February 5, 2025; people must give the government advance notice before certain new uses or imports of products that contain this chemical.

What it does#

• Moves AEEA onto the part of the Domestic Substances List that requires a Significant New Activity Notification (SNAN) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
• Triggers SNAN and information requirements for two main situations:
  • Making a consumer product that will be sold in a container larger than 250 mL, or making a cosmetic, when the product contains AEEA at 0.1% or more by weight.
  • Importing such consumer products or cosmetics that contain AEEA at 0.1% or more by weight if the total amount imported in a calendar year exceeds 10 kg.
• Exempts certain activities from the SNAN rules:
  • Research and development substances and site‑limited intermediates.
  • Products intended only for export.
• Requires anyone proposing a covered new activity to send detailed information to the Minister at least 90 days before starting. The required information includes quantities, product descriptions, uses, test data, and contact details. The government then has 90 days to assess the submission.
• Does not change rules for existing uses that were already assessed as low risk.

Who's affected#

• Companies that make or import consumer products or cosmetics containing AEEA at 0.1% or more by weight. This includes makers, importers, distributors, and private-label sellers.
• Businesses that import more than 10 kg per year of products (consumer products or cosmetics) containing AEEA at 0.1% or more.
• Industries that use AEEA as an intermediate or in building products, adhesives, epoxy hardeners, cooling-system additives or similar uses may notice the change if they start selling relevant finished products or import them in the sizes/amounts above.
• Activities limited to research, site-limited intermediates, or export-only are not affected.
• Federal departments involved in chemicals and health oversight, including Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada, will process notifications and assessments.

Why it matters#

• The rule gives the government a chance to review and assess any new or expanded uses of AEEA that could raise exposure before those activities begin.
• For businesses, it means extra planning: if you intend to start one of the covered uses or imports, you must gather technical and exposure information and submit it 90 days in advance. That can affect product launch timelines.
• For the public, it aims to reduce the risk that a chemical judged to have “properties of concern” will be introduced into products or markets in ways that increase harm to human health or the environment.
• The order leaves existing, already-assessed uses alone; it targets only potential new or expanded activities that could change exposure.