In 2001, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) required that the 23,000 substances on the Domestic Substances List (DSL) be categorized by 2006 and subject to a Screening Level Risk Assessment (SLRA), if warranted. On December 9, 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the government's new Chemicals Management Plan (CMP). CCSPA is extremely active on all aspects of this important file and we are working hard to ensure our industry and our substances are supported and defended. CCSPA advocates for:

• science-based decisions
• due process for companies
• effective communications to Canadians

• alerted our members about the importance of getting their suppliers engaged on the substances captured in the Industry Challenge Program
• assist our members on the CMP process for submitting the necessary technical data to government that will allow continued access to technology and provide opportunities for engagement with officials on the science
• increase the proactive communication by government, industry and retailers on regulation, approval processes and their actions on substances
• provide key information documents to our members, their customers and retail associations handling media interviews on this important topic

Ontario - New and Emerging Regulatory Environment

CCSPA has been active on a number of files that have surfaced in Ontario in the last 22 months and directly impact the competitiveness of our industry. We are actively pursuing the government to undertake a cost benefit analysis prior to any finalizing of new regulations. Our files include:

• Bill 64 - Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act and Regulations
• Bill 167 - Toxics Reduction Act and Regulations
• Post-consumer waste:
  • Blue Box Program Plan Review
  • Review of the Waste Diversion Act
  • Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste (MHSW), Phases 1-3

""CCSPA's groundbreaking leadership in moving forward with industry's voluntary ingredient communication initiative shows commitment not only to their members but also to Canadian consumers." Alan Thompson General Manager Reckitt Benckiser (Canada) Inc.

Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals

The Canadian federal government is preparing policies and strategies to implement the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) in Canada. It will impact all CCSPA members. To support members' interests as Canadian policy for GHS is developed and implemented, CCSPA formed the GHS Ad Hoc Working Group, and we participate on numerous external GHS committees with government. CCSPA is working with our sister associations to ensure we have North American harmonization and the timing of Canada's implementation coincides with our major trading partners. We are also involved with our global associations to ensure effective positioning of our concerns.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) were declared toxic under CEPA as precursors to ground-level ozone, a component of smog. They have been added to Schedule 1 of CEPA, the Toxic Substances List, and will undergo mandatory risk management as determined by Environment Canada. Currently, VOCs in consumer products are subject to a voluntary guideline based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule. CCSPA has been actively engaged with Environment Canada to ensure the proposed regulations published in Canada Gazette, Part I, are harmonized with our major trading partner.

The Pest Control Products Act and Regulations

The new Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) received Royal Assent on December 12, 2002, after a report was tabled by the Senate Committee during 3rd reading on December 10, 2002. CCSPA submitted extensive comments and met with key officials at the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) on the proposed regulations to alleviate unnecessary costs to our industry and harmonize with our major trading partners. We continue to work proactively with PMRA to resolve our key concerns with the proposed regulations and overall communications. CCSPA is committed to working with the PMRA to ensure the provincial governments who have taken action on pest control products do so based on science. CCSPA has been active in Alberta, Ontario, PEI and New Brunswick in 2009.

The Formulated Products Industry Coalition

CCSPA is a founding member of the Formulated Products Industry Coalition (FPIC), a group that represents the industry associations who have products regulated under the Food & Drugs Act (F&DA). Our members provide food, personal care products, household cleaners, cosmetics, medical devices and pharmaceuticals to Canadian consumers. Collectively, we represent over 750 member companies, comprise a $66 billion/year industry and employ over 375,000 Canadians.

This unique stakeholder coalition was formed by 14 trade associations in 2001 to provide a unified voice for the affected industry sectors; to serve as a resource to industry, Health Canada, and Environment Canada; and to help ensure that substances used in formulated consumer products, including those regulated under the F&DA, are subject to appropriate, efficient, and effective environmental assessments.