Talc Proposed for Schedule 1

Summary#

The federal government published a proposed Order Adding a Toxic Substance to Schedule 1 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 on May 22, 2021. If finalized, the order would add talc to the list of toxic substances in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, which would allow the government to propose legally enforceable controls on talc in future.

What it does#

• Adds talc (the mineral used in many powders and industrial products) to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
• Does not itself impose new rules or costs. It only gives the government the authority to develop risk-management measures under the Act.
• Explains that the move follows a federal screening assessment under the Chemicals Management Plan that found risks to human health from certain uses of talc. The assessment pointed to:
  • inhalation risks from fine talc particles (linked to lung effects), and
  • perineal (genital) exposure linked in studies to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
• The proposal was published for public comment. The notice allowed a 60 days comment period from publication (this summary notes the proposal stage — the order is not law until finalized and registered).

Who's affected#

• Consumers who use talc-containing products, especially people exposed to talc powders (for example, baby powders, body powders and some personal care products).
• Manufacturers, importers and retailers of:
  • cosmetics and personal-care products,
  • natural health products and non-prescription drugs,
  • companies that mine, process, import or use talc in industrial products (paper, plastics, paints, ceramics, construction, etc.).
• Food and food-packaging businesses where talc may be a permitted incidental additive.
• Provincial and territorial governments and Indigenous groups could be involved later if specific risk-management rules are developed.
• Small businesses are not immediately affected because the listing itself creates no new compliance requirements. Actual impacts depend on any future measures the government may propose.

Why it matters#

• Adding talc to Schedule 1 is the step that lets the government write and enforce rules (for example bans, limits, labeling or other controls) aimed at reducing the health risks the assessment identified.
• The screening assessment found a consistent association in studies between genital exposure to talc and ovarian cancer, and found inhaled talc dust can harm lungs. Those findings are the reason for the proposed listing.
• For everyday people, the main practical result could be changes to products you buy or their labels if the government follows up with specific restrictions. For businesses, future rules could mean reformulating products, changing labels, or stopping certain uses.
• The proposal itself does not change what people can buy or do today. Any concrete changes would come later if and when risk-management measures are developed and finalized.