SNAc proposal for TEA, DEA, LDE, CDE

Summary#

The Department of the Environment published several related notices about a group of chemical ingredients used in cleaners, cosmetics and personal-care products.
One is Ministerial Condition No. 22434, which allows limited manufacture or import of castor oil, monomaleate under strict conditions. The department also announced a proposed change to the Domestic Substances List to add Significant New Activity (SNAc) requirements for four substances (TEA, DEA, LDE, CDE) and published a summary assessment of 11 related substances. The public can comment on the proposed DSL change from June 27, 2026 to August 27, 2026.

What it does#

• Ministerial condition for castor oil, monomaleate

  • Under Ministerial Condition No. 22434, the notifier named in the notice may manufacture or import castor oil, monomaleate (CAS RN 241153-84-4) only for making specific consumer products.
  • The substance may be used only in the manufacture of liquid body wash, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, liquid hand soap, and toothpaste at concentrations of 2.5% by weight or less.
  • The notifier must tell anyone they transfer the substance to about these conditions and get written confirmation that downstream users will not use it for other products.
  • The notifier must keep records (use, concentrations, quantities, recipients and confirmations) for at least five years. The condition came into force on June 10, 2026.

• Notice of intent to add SNAc requirements to four substances

  • The government plans to amend the Domestic Substances List so that the Significant New Activity rules in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 apply to:
    • Ethanol, 2,2′,2″-nitrilotris- (TEA)
    • Ethanol, 2,2′-iminobis- (DEA)
    • Dodecanamide, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)- (LDE)
    • Amides, coco, N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl) (CDE)
  • The proposed change would require a Significant New Activity Notification (SNAN) at least 90 days before beginning a covered new use. The government would then assess that information within 90 days of receiving it.
  • The notice lists specific triggers that would require notification. Examples include:
    • TEA in air fresheners at concentrations greater than 4% by weight, or importation in such air fresheners where total import > 10 kg in a year.
    • TEA in certain cosmetics: non-fluoridated toothpaste > 5%, mouthwash ≥ 1% (and import totals > 10 kg).
    • DEA in cleaning sprays or all-purpose cleaners at concentrations ≥ 3% by weight (and imports > 10 kg).
    • LDE in leave-on cosmetics at concentrations > 2.5% by weight (and imports > 10 kg).
    • CDE in cleaning sprays at concentrations ≥ 12.5% by weight, or in shampoos/body soaps > 21%, or in leave-on cosmetics > 0.5% (with the same 10 kg import threshold).
  • A public comment period runs for 60 days from June 27, 2026 to August 27, 2026.

• Assessment of the Alkanolamines and Fatty Alkanolamides Group

  • The government published a screening assessment of 11 substances in this group. It concluded none of the 11 currently meet the main test in section 64 of CEPA for being toxic in Canada right now.
  • However, the assessment identifies potential health concerns (including possible carcinogenicity) for DEA, LDE, CDE, and TEA, and says these four could become a problem if future uses or exposures increase. That is why the SNAc proposal is being made.

Who's affected#

• Companies that make, import, formulate or sell the named chemicals or products that contain them. That includes manufacturers of:
  • cosmetics and personal-care products (toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoos, lotions, leave-on cosmetics),
  • household cleaners and cleaning sprays,
  • air fresheners and similar consumer products.
• The specific notifier for castor oil, monomaleate and any downstream recipients of that supply (they must receive written notice and confirm restricted use).
• Importers whose annual totals of a substance in covered products could exceed 10 kg — they would need to notify.
• Consumers are not directly banned from using products today, but suppliers and makers of these products may face new paperwork, limits or future restrictions.
• It is unclear from the notice whether small-scale sellers or craftspeople will be affected; obligations focus on persons who manufacture or import in quantities or concentrations above the stated thresholds.

Why it matters#

• The government is setting up checks before new or expanded uses of these chemicals can proceed. That gives regulators a chance to assess possible health and environmental risks before exposure grows.
• For businesses, the notices mean new notification and record-keeping duties if they plan to use or import these substances above the listed concentrations or quantities. That can affect product formulation choices and supply chains.
• For the public, there is no immediate ban. But the measures aim to prevent future increases in exposure to substances that the assessment flagged for potential health concern, including possible cancer links for some chemicals.
• There is a real chance to influence the rules: stakeholders and the public can comment on the proposed DSL change during the 60‑day window ending August 27, 2026.