Draft PFAS report; proposed Schedule 1 listing

Summary#

The federal ministers have published a draft state of the class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and say they plan to recommend adding the class to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The report covers risks to the environment and human health from a class of more than 4,700 PFAS and is paired with a risk management scope document; the public can comment for 60 days after publication (May 20, 2023).

What it does#

• Publishes a draft assessment describing how PFAS behave in the environment and the potential harms to wildlife and people.
• Says the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health intend to recommend adding the entire class of PFAS to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. That is the formal list that can lead to regulatory action.
• Releases a risk management scope document to start discussions with industry, communities and other stakeholders about possible ways to reduce risks.
• Invites public comments for 60 days after the notice’s publication (May 20, 2023). Comments can be sent by email to substances@ec.gc.ca, through Environment and Climate Change Canada’s online Single Window, or by mail. You can also ask that information you provide be treated as confidential.

Who's affected#

• Companies that make, import or use PFAS-containing products, such as manufacturers of firefighting foams, textiles, food packaging, cosmetics, paints and coatings, and some industrial chemicals.
• Workers and professions with higher exposure risks, for example firefighters and people who maintain firefighting equipment.
• People living near known PFAS release sites, including airports, military bases and some industrial or landfill sites.
• Northern Indigenous communities and other groups already identified as having elevated PFAS levels in some studies.
• Municipal services and waste managers, because PFAS-containing products enter wastewater, biosolids and landfill streams.
• Researchers, health monitors and provincial/territorial authorities involved in testing, cleanup, or setting drinking water and soil guidelines.
• If it is unclear whether a specific product or chemical is covered, affected parties should review the draft report and scope or submit questions during the comment period.

Why it matters#

• PFAS are highly persistent in the environment and can accumulate in people and wildlife. They are often called “forever chemicals.”
• Adding the class to Schedule 1 is a key step that can lead to concrete controls (such as bans, limits, or cleanup requirements). This process could change what products are allowed, how waste is managed, and how contaminated sites are handled.
• The draft highlights that exposures are widespread and that managing individual PFAS one-by-one is slow and may miss broader risks. The proposed approach could lead to wider, class-based measures.
• If you work with PFAS, live near a suspected source, or follow product safety or environmental health, this is an early chance to read the government’s analysis and give input before specific rules are developed.