SNAc Proposals and Castor Oil Condition

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice contains three Environment Department items. It (1) issues Ministerial Condition No. 22434 allowing one notifier to make or import the substance castor oil, monomaleate (CAS RN 241153-84-4) under tight limits; (2) announces a notice of intent to amend the Domestic Substances List to apply Significant New Activity (SNAc) rules to four common alkanolamines (TEA, DEA, LDE, CDE); and (3) publishes a summary assessment of 11 related substances that finds current uses are not an immediate risk but flags four of them as potentially able to become toxic if use or exposure increases. The Gazette item was published on June 27, 2026.

What it does#

• Ministerial condition for one notifier:

  • Allows the named notifier to manufacture or import castor oil, monomaleate (CAS RN 241153-84-4), but only for use in specific personal-care products where the substance is at ≤ 2.5% by weight.
  • Permitted product types: liquid body wash, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, liquid hand soap, and toothpaste.
  • Requires the notifier to inform and get written agreement from anyone they transfer the substance to (unless it is already in a finished product).
  • Sets record-keeping rules (product concentration, quantities, recipient names/addresses, confirmations) and a 5‑year retention requirement.
  • These conditions came into force on June 10, 2026.

• Notice of intent to amend the Domestic Substances List (SNAc proposals):

  • The minister intends to make companies notify the government before certain new or expanded uses of four substances:
    • ethanol, 2,2′,2″-nitrilotris- (TEA) — CAS RN 102-71-6: notification triggered for air fresheners with > 4% by weight, or import of such products totalling > 10 kg in a year; also for certain toothpaste (> 5%) and mouthwash (≥ 1%).
    • ethanol, 2,2′-iminobis- (DEA) — CAS RN 111-42-2: notification for cleaning sprays/all-purpose liquids with ≥ 3% by weight, or import of such products totalling > 10 kg in a year.
    • dodecanamide, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)- (LDE) — CAS RN 120-40-1: notification for leave-on cosmetics with > 2.5% by weight, or import of such leave-on products totalling > 10 kg in a year.
    • amides, coco, N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl) (CDE) — CAS RN 68603-42-9: notification for cleaning sprays/all-purpose liquids with ≥ 12.5% by weight, or import of such products totalling > 10 kg in a year; also for certain shampoos/body soaps (> 21%) and leave-on cosmetics (> 0.5%).
  • For any proposed significant new activity, the notifier must provide the prescribed information at least 90 days before starting it. The government aims to assess submitted information within 90 days.
  • Public comment period on the notice runs from June 27, 2026 to August 27, 2026.

• Publication of the group assessment:

  • The government published a summary assessment of 11 alkanolamines and fatty alkanolamides.
  • It concludes that, at current levels, the 11 substances do not meet the law’s criteria for immediate action.
  • However, the assessment says DEA, LDE, CDE and TEA have health effects of concern (including cancer-related findings in lab studies) and therefore are being proposed for addition to the List of substances capable of becoming toxic. That is why SNAc rules are being targeted at particular product uses.

Who's affected#

• Manufacturers and importers of chemicals or ingredients who handle any of the named substances.
• Cosmetic and personal-care companies, and cleaning-product makers that use TEA, DEA, LDE, or CDE in their formulations.
• Suppliers and distributors in the product supply chain — they may need to keep records and confirm permitted uses.
• Retailers and others who import finished consumer products containing these substances may be affected if import quantities or concentrations exceed the listed thresholds.
• Consumers of affected products could notice reformulated products over time, although the notices do not ban current uses.
• Members of the public who want to comment on the proposed DSL change. (The notice gives a 60‑day comment window from June 27, 2026 to August 27, 2026.)

Why it matters#

• These actions are preventive. They aim to stop new uses that could raise people’s exposure to chemicals the government sees as having concerning health effects if exposures grow.
• Companies planning to start new uses, increase concentrations, or import larger amounts will need to notify the government 90 days before doing so. That gives regulators a chance to review and, if needed, limit or manage the activity before it happens.
• The ministerial condition shows how the government can allow a specific use while requiring tracking and controls to limit wider exposure. That can affect formulation choices and record-keeping for businesses.
• For the public, this work means regulators are watching chemicals used in everyday products (toothpaste, shampoos, cleaners, air fresheners) and creating early-warning rules so exposure doesn’t unintentionally increase.