Microorganisms Removed from Domestic Substances List

Summary#

Order 2021-105-07-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List: SOR/2021-158 removes a set of living microorganisms from Part 7 of the Domestic Substances List. The order was registered on June 23, 2021 and came into force on that day. It was made by Jonathan Wilkinson under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

What it does#

• Deletes a group of microorganism entries from Part 7 of the Domestic Substances List. The removed entries include various species of Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Flavobacterium, Micrococcus, Thiobacillus, Cellumonas, Enterobacter, Nitrobacter, Nitrosomonas and Rhodopseudomonas as listed in the order.
• The Order states it “comes into force on the day on which it is registered,” i.e. June 23, 2021.

Who's affected#

• Companies that import, manufacture, sell or use the listed microorganisms.
• Research, clinical or laboratory facilities that work with those microbes.
• Manufacturers of products that include these organisms (for example in fermentation, bio-processing or waste treatment) may notice a change.
• It is not spelled out in the order what specific regulatory steps follow the deletions, so it is unclear exactly which activities will be affected and how. Stakeholders should check with federal regulators for details.

Why it matters#

• Being removed from the Domestic Substances List can change a microorganism’s regulatory status. That may mean new reporting, assessment, or other requirements under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 for people who import, make, or use them.
• For businesses and labs, this could affect supply chains, research materials, product approvals, or compliance work. The order itself does not explain the practical consequences or the reason for the deletions, so the exact impacts are uncertain.