Restrictions on octanamide N‑hydroxy (7377-03-9)

Summary#

This notice publishes Ministerial Condition No. 21911 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. It lets the person who supplied information about the chemical octanamide, N‑hydroxy‑ (CAS 7377-03-9) manufacture or import it, but only under specific conditions and record-keeping rules that came into force on August 23, 2024.

What it does#

• Allows the notifier (the person who provided information to the government on June 25, 2024) to manufacture or import the substance, but only subject to the written conditions in this notice.
• Stops the notifier from importing or manufacturing the substance for use in cosmetics as defined in the Food and Drugs Act.
• Requires the notifier to transfer the substance only to people who agree to use it according to the cosmetics restriction.
• Requires the notifier to inform any transferee in writing of the ministerial conditions and to get written confirmation, before the first transfer, that the transferee was informed and will comply.
• Sets record-keeping rules. The notifier must keep records showing:
  • the substance’s uses;
  • quantities manufactured, imported, purchased, distributed, sold and used;
  • the name and address of everyone it gives the substance to;
  • the written confirmations from transferees.
• Additional record rules:
  • Update addresses in the records within 30 days of learning of a change.
  • Create records within 30 days after the information or documents become available.
  • Keep records in English and/or French at the notifier’s principal place of business in Canada for at least five years.
  • Electronic records must be kept in a readable format.

Who's affected#

• Primarily the notifier — the person or company that provided the information to the government on June 25, 2024 and is allowed to manufacture or import the substance under these conditions.
• Any person or business that receives the substance from that notifier. They must agree in writing to use it only for allowed purposes and keep required confirmations.
• The cosmetics industry, because the substance cannot be imported or manufactured for use in cosmetics under these conditions.
• If it is unclear who counts as the notifier or whether others might later be authorized, the notice itself is the source of that detail.

Why it matters#

• The federal ministers suspect this chemical may be toxic, so these conditions limit how it can enter the Canadian market and who can handle it.
• The ban on cosmetic uses protects consumers from potential exposure through personal care products.
• The record and transfer rules create a paper trail. That makes it easier for regulators to track where the substance goes and how much is in circulation.
• The rules apply to a specific notifier and their recipients; they do not generally open the substance to unrestricted trade.