Restrictions on N‑hydroxy‑octanamide Use

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice includes Ministerial Condition No. 21911 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, which permits the manufacture or import of octanamide, N‑hydroxy‑ (Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number 7377-03-9) but only under specific conditions. The same issue also publishes a list of federal appointments, including several judicial and Senate appointments and an administrative change for The Hon. Steven MacKinnon.

What it does#

• Allows the person who filed information on June 25, 2024 (the “notifier”) to manufacture or import octanamide, N‑hydroxy‑ (CAS 7377-03-9) — but only under the ministerial conditions in Ministerial Condition No. 21911.
• Sets limits and duties for that substance:
  • It cannot be imported or manufactured for use in cosmetics.
  • The notifier may transfer the substance only to people who agree to use it under the same restriction.
  • Before any transfer, the notifier must inform the recipient in writing of the conditions and get written confirmation that the recipient agrees.
  • The notifier must keep records showing uses, quantities made/imported/sold, recipient names and addresses, and the written confirmations.
  • Records must be created within 30 days of getting the information, be kept for at least 5 years, be stored at the notifier’s principal place of business in Canada, and be readable electronically or on paper.
• States that these ministerial conditions came into force on August 23, 2024.
• Also publishes many routine appointment notices from the Office of the Registrar General — for example, several judicial appointments and new senators, including Victor Eric Boudreau, Sandor Adler, and Tracy Ann Muggli, and an administrative styling for The Hon. Steven MacKinnon to be Minister of Labour and Seniors.

Who's affected#

• Manufacturers and importers of the specific chemical octanamide, N‑hydroxy‑ (CAS 7377-03-9), especially the notifier who submitted information on June 25, 2024.
• Businesses or labs that might receive the substance from the notifier — they must agree in writing to the use restrictions and keep related paperwork.
• The cosmetics industry, because the substance is explicitly barred from cosmetic uses under these conditions.
• The general public and regulators who follow chemical safety rules, since the measure is meant to control a substance the government suspects may be toxic.
• People and institutions affected by the listed appointments — the courts and the Senate of Canada will see personnel changes (the Gazette lists the specific names and orders).

Note: the Gazette notice identifies a “notifier” but does not name that person or company in the text provided.

Why it matters#

• The ministerial conditions let one party keep working with a chemical that the government suspects could be harmful, but only under strict limits. That balance aims to allow needed industrial or research use while reducing consumer exposure (notably, banning cosmetic uses).
• The record-keeping and transfer rules make it easier for regulators to trace how much of the substance is in Canada and who has it. That can matter for public health tracking, inspections, or future restrictions.
• The appointment notices are mostly administrative but affect who sits on courts and in the Senate, which matters for legal decisions and parliamentary representation over time.