Limits on 1-hexanol, 2-ethyl- reaction product

Summary#

This notice publishes Ministerial Condition No. 21535 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. It allows the manufacture or import of the substance 1‑hexanol, 2‑ethyl-, reaction products with 1,6‑diisocyanatohexane (CAS RN 197393‑84‑3), but only under a set of conditions that aim to limit its release and use, and that require record‑keeping. The conditions came into force on September 12, 2023.

What it does#

• Permits manufacture or import of the named substance only for the person who supplied information to the government (the “notifier” — not named in the notice).
• Prohibits importing or manufacturing the substance if it is present in, or will be used to make, a consumer product regulated by the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.
• Requires the notifier to transfer the substance only to people who agree in writing to follow those limits.
• Requires immediate action and reporting to the Minister of the Environment if any release of the substance or waste to the environment occurs.
• Forces the notifier to tell any transferee, in writing, about these conditions and to get written confirmation of their agreement before the first transfer.
• Sets record‑keeping rules. The notifier must keep records showing:
  • how the substance is used and quantities manufactured, imported, purchased, distributed, sold and used;
  • who receives the substance (name and address) and written confirmations from those recipients.
• Timing and storage rules for records:
  • create or update records within 30 days of when information becomes available or of an address change;
  • keep records for at least five years at the notifier’s principal place of business in Canada (or their Canadian representative’s principal place of business);
  • records can be in English, French or both and electronic records must be readable.

Who's affected#

• The unnamed notifier (the company or person who provided information on April 25, 2023) is directly affected and is the only party explicitly allowed to make or import the substance under these conditions.
• Companies that might receive the substance must agree in writing to the conditions before taking possession.
• Manufacturers or importers of consumer products are affected because the substance cannot be imported or used to make consumer products covered by the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.
• Nearby communities, workplace safety officers, and environmental responders may be affected in the event of a release, because the notifier must act immediately and report releases.

Why it matters#

• The government suspects the substance may be toxic, so this lets a specific party keep working with it but with limits designed to reduce risks to people and the environment.
• The ban on use in consumer products helps prevent the substance from entering everyday items that people might buy.
• The record‑keeping and transfer rules increase traceability: regulators can see who is handling the substance and how much is in circulation.
• The quick‑action and reporting requirements aim to limit environmental harm if something goes wrong.