Notices on chemicals, VOCs and air travel

Summary#

This Canada Gazette issue (Part I, July 9, 2022) publishes several government notices on chemicals, air quality and air travel. Key items let one company import or make a specific chemical for limited cosmetic uses under conditions, set new notification and testing rules for another chemical used in cosmetics, lay out a renewed plan to cut volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from products through to 2030, and update COVID-19 rules for flights to Canada under the Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19, No. 66.

What it does#

• Ministerial Condition No. 21127 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 allows the manufacture or import of α‑D‑glucopyranoside, 4‑hydroxyphenyl (CAS RN 84380‑01‑8) only under strict conditions:

  • Manufacture/import is limited to making cosmetics for the face with up to 2% by weight, or cosmetics for the body (not face) with up to 0.5% by weight.
  • The notifier must inform any recipient in writing, get written confirmation they will follow the limits, and keep records at their Canadian business for at least 5 years.
  • These conditions came into force on June 21, 2022.

• Significant New Activity Notice No. 21064 applies to Alkanoic acid, trialkyl‑..., (Confidential Accession Number 19501‑9) and says certain new uses trigger mandatory advance notice:

  • Using or selling the substance in a cosmetic at concentrations of ≥ 0.1% by weight is a “significant new activity” that requires a notification at least 90 days before starting.
  • A temporary allowance lets up to 1,000 kg be used or sold at that concentration until July 8, 2023.
  • The notice requires specific toxicity studies (including OECD test methods 428, 427 and 410) and other exposure and safety information for assessment within 90 days of receiving a complete submission.

• An Order amends the Non‑domestic Substances List by removing CAS RN 1684433‑74‑6 from Part I; the change takes effect when a related Domestic Substances List order comes into force.

• The federal government set out a renewed plan — the Federal agenda on the reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds from consumer and commercial products — to act between 2022 and 2030:

  • Actions include monitoring a new voluntary standard for portable fuel containers and possibly turning it into regulation; updating VOC limits for architectural coatings and automotive refinishing; developing regulations for industrial and commercial adhesives and sealants; and creating a non‑regulatory instrument for printing on plastic packaging.
  • Planned completion targets include 2025, 2026, 2028, 2029, and 2030 for different activities.
  • Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada will consult stakeholders as they develop these instruments.

• Interim Order No. 66 sets rules for flights to Canada (made June 27, 2022):

  • Airlines and private operators must verify ArriveCAN submissions before boarding and keep certain passenger records for 12 months, and give a copy to the Public Health Agency of Canada within 1 hour after departure when requested.
  • Most travellers to Canada must show a negative COVID-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours or an antigen test within 1 day before departure; a prior positive molecular test taken between 10 and 180 days can also be accepted in some cases.
  • Foreign nationals are generally barred from boarding flights to Canada unless they are permitted entry under quarantine rules.
  • Masks are required for most people during boarding, the flight, deplaning and in customs areas, with limited exceptions.
  • The Order replaces Interim Order No. 65 and lists enforceable penalties (up to $5,000 for individuals and up to $25,000 for corporations for some contraventions).

Who's affected#

• Cosmetic ingredient manufacturers, importers and formulators using:
  • α‑D‑glucopyranoside, 4‑hydroxyphenyl (CAS RN 84380‑01‑8) — limited cosmetic uses and record‑keeping requirements.
  • Alkanoic acid, trialkyl‑... (Confidential Accession Number 19501‑9) — anyone planning to use or sell it in cosmetics at ≥ 0.1% will need to notify and provide test data.
• Chemical suppliers, distributors and downstream product makers who handle or transfer those substances.
• Manufacturers and retailers of paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, printing services, portable fuel containers and other consumer/commercial products that emit VOCs — they may face tighter limits or new regulations over the next years.
• Airlines, private operators, gate agents, screening authorities and passengers on flights to Canada — because of ArriveCAN checks, testing, mask rules and record requirements.
• The general public in areas with poor air quality — who may benefit from future VOC reductions.

Some items are narrow and mainly affect specific companies or sectors (for example, the ministerial condition names a single notifier). The Gazette text is clear about who must notify and who must keep records; for other items the exact affected firms will become clearer during consultations and rule development.

Why it matters#

• Public health and safety: The chemical notices aim to limit human exposure until safety is better understood. If companies want to start new uses in cosmetics, regulators will require data first.
• Product supply and design: The VOC agenda signals likely changes to formulation rules for paints, adhesives, sealants, printing inks and fuel containers. Manufacturers and retailers may need to reformulate products or change sourcing to meet new limits.
• Travel requirements: The aviation Interim Order directly affects travellers’ planning — testing, ArriveCAN, mask use and the possibility of denied boarding or penalties if rules aren’t followed.
• Environmental benefits: Reducing VOC emissions can lower ground‑level ozone and fine particulate formation, which helps urban air quality and health over time.
• Compliance burden: Companies that import or use the named substances, or that make affected products, should watch for consultations and timelines so they can prepare required data, change formulations, or adjust operations.