Risk Management of PFAS in Canada
OECD PFC Group
May 15, 2019
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Outline
• Overview of Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan
• Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances
Regulations, 2012
• Proposed amendments to the Prohibition of
Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012
• Annex: References and web site links

Chemicals Management in
Canada
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First Priority Substances List (PSL1): created 1989
Domestic Substances List
(DSL): created 1991
Second Priority Substances List (PSL 2): created 1995
New Substances Regulations est. for Chemicals & Polymers - 1994
New Substances Regulations est. for Organisms - 1997
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
(CEPA 1999) - Renewal
Categorization/Prioritization (2000-2006)
Chemicals Management Plan 1 - 2006
Chemicals Management Plan 2 - 2011
Chemicals Management Plan 3 – 2016-2021
2020
Environmental Contaminants Act of 1975
Sound Management of Chemicals
Management of Chemicals
continues beyond 2020
Canadian
Environmental
Protection Act (CEPA)
1988 Proclaimed
We are here
Chemicals Management in Canada

• Objective: To protect Canadians and their
environment from the risks of harmful
chemicals
• Principle legislation is the Canadian
Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA)
• CEPA covers a range of activities that can
affect human health and the environment,
and acts to address any pollution issues
not covered by other federal laws
• Integrates across federal government
programs to ensure appropriate assessment
and management of chemicals
• Includes comprehensive stakeholder
engagement (e.g. NGOs, industry)
Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan

Existing Substances Assessment &
Management
Publication of
Proposed Risk
Management
Instrument
Publication of
Final Risk
Management
Instrument
CEPA timeline
Max 18 months
CEPA timeline max 24 monthsSelf imposed 18-24 month timeline
Official publication in Canada Gazette
Denotes a 60 day public comment period
Proposed
Order to
Add to List
of Toxic
Substances
Final Order
to Add to
List of
Toxic
Substances
Publication of
Draft Risk
Assessment
and
statement of
proposed
“measure”
Publication of
Final Risk
Assessment
and statement
of proposed
“measure “
Information
Gathering
If substance is not toxic, or if decision is made to take no further action under CEPA, process stops here
Publication
of Risk
Management
Approach
Document
Publication
of Risk
Management
Scope
document
**
* Only for toxic substances, published on departmental website

Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances
Regulations, 2012
• A multi-substance risk management instrument used to prohibit the
manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale or import of certain toxic
substances and products that contain them, with a limited number of
exemptions
• Generally used to control substances that are found to be very
harmful (i.e., toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative)
• Main tool to implement Canada’s obligations under the Stockholm
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
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Proposed Amendments to the Regulations
• A Notice of Intent (NOI) to amend the Regulations was published in
the CGI on Oct 13, 2018
• GoC committed to put in place stronger regulatory controls to address
contaminants that pose a threat to the Southern Resident Killer Whale
recovery
• A consultation document outlining the proposed approach to
amending the Regulations was published on Dec 20, 2018
• The proposed regulatory approach is to:
• Further restrict the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale and import of
PFOS, PFOA, LC-PFCA, HBCD and PBDEs (except decaBDE) by
eliminating all current exemptions;
• Include a time-limited exemption for the import and use of decaBDE
in automotive replacement parts until 2036
• Prohibit the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale and import of DP and
DBDPE
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History of PFOS in Canada
• Jul 01, 2006 – Publication of the Ecological Screening Assessment
Report on Perfluorooctane Sulfonate, Salts and Precursors
• Jun 11, 2008 – Publication of the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and Its
Salts and Certain Other Compounds Regulations (PFOS
Regulations)
• Oct 05, 2016 – Substance added to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic
Substances Regulations (Regulations) and PFOS Regulations
repealed
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History of PFOS in Canada (Con’t)
• Never manufactured in Canada
• Was primarily used as a surfactant in the metal plating industry and
in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used in fire-fighting
• Was historically used in a wide variety of surface treatments for
textiles, upholstery, leather, carpet and packaging to provide water,
oil, dirt and grease repellent properties
• Limited uses are still allowed under the Regulations in photography
(films, papers and printing plates) and in semi-conductor
manufacturing (photolithography applications)
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PFOS Current Exemptions and Proposed
Amendments
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Current exemption Proposed amendment
Import, manufacture, use, sale and offer for sale
of PFOS or a product containing it if it is
designed for use in photoresists or anti-reflective
coatings for photolithography.
Remove this exemption as this use
has been discontinued globally.
Import, manufacture, use, sale and offer for sale
of PFOS or a product containing it if it is
designed for use in photographic films, papers
and printing plates.
Remove this exemption as this use
is declining globally.
Import or use of PFOS in AFFF present in a
military vessel or military fire-fighting vehicle
contaminated during a foreign military operation.
Remove this exemption as the use
of PFOS in AFFF has been
discontinued and alternatives are
available globally.
The use of AFFF that contains residual levels of
PFOS at a maximum concentration of 10 ppm.
Remove this exemption as PFOS
use in AFFF was prohibited in 2008
and alternatives are available
globally.

History of PFOA in Canada
• Aug 25, 2016 – Publication of the final Screening Assessment
Report
• Oct 05, 2016 – Substances added to the Regulations
• Never manufactured in Canada, but was imported, and may
continue to be imported, in AFFF used in fire-fighting applications,
and in manufactured items such as: textiles (rugs, carpets, clothing
and outdoor equipment); paper and packaging; and electrical and
electronic equipment.
• Was primarily used as water, dirt and grease repellents, and as
surfactants and surface treatment agents.
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PFOA Current Exemptions and Proposed
Amendments
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Current exemption Proposed amendment
Import, use, sale and offer for sale of AFFF that contains PFOA for fire-
fighting.
Remove this exemption as this use has
been discontinued and alternatives are
available globally.
Use or import of a product containing PFOA, if the product is for personal
use.
Remove this exemption as alternatives
are available globally.
Import, use, sale and offer for sale of manufactured items containing
PFOA. This includes:
 Nano coatings
 Surface treated paper and cardboard packaging for commercial and
consumer use.
 Textiles – Outdoor applications such as awning, outdoor furniture and
camping gear
 Textiles for oil and water repellency for the protection from dangerous
liquids for the protection of workers from risks to their health and
safety.
 Membranes intended for use in medical textiles, filtration in water
treatment, production processes and effluent treatment
 Semiconductors or related electronic devices that contain
fluoropolymers and/or fluoroelastomers with PFOA residues
 Spare parts for transportation sector
Remove this exemption as alternatives
are available globally for most uses.

History of LC-PFCAs in Canada
• Aug 25, 2016 – Publication of the final Screening Assessment
Report
• Oct 05, 2016 – Substances added to the Regulations
• Never manufactured in Canada, but were imported and may
continue to be imported in AFFF used in fire-fighting applications,
and in manufactured items such as: textiles (rugs, carpets, clothing
and outdoor equipment); paper and packaging; and electrical and
electronic equipment.
• Were primarily used as water, soil and grease repellents, and also
as surfactants and surface treatment agents.
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LC-PFCA Current Exemptions and
Proposed Amendments
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Current exemption Proposed amendment
Import, use, sale and offer for sale of AFFF that contains LC-PFCAs for fire-
fighting.
Remove this exemption as this use
has been discontinued and
alternatives are available globally.
Use or import of products containing LC-PFCAs, if the product is for personal
use.
Remove this exemption as
alternatives are available globally.
Import, use, sale and offer for sale of manufactured items containing LC-
PFCAs. This includes:
 Nano coatings
 Surface treated paper and cardboard packaging for commercial and
consumer use
 Textiles – Outdoor applications such as awning, outdoor furniture and
camping gears
 Textiles for oil and water repellency for the protection from dangerous
liquids for the protection of workers from risks to their health and safety
 Membranes intended for use in medical textiles, filtration in water
treatment, production processes and effluent treatment
 Semiconductors or related electronic devices that contain fluoropolymers
and/or fluoroelastomers with residues
 Spare parts for transportation sector
Remove this exemption as
alternatives are available globally for
most uses.

Next Steps
• Comments on the consultation document were
requested by February 18, 2019
• Develop proposed amendments to the Regulations
based on comments received and taking into
consideration final listings of PFOS and PFOA to the
Stockholm Convention – Summer-Fall 2019
• Publish proposed amendments to the Regulations –
Winter 2020
• Publish final amendments to the Regulations – Winter
2021
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Discussion/Questions
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Contact Information
Chemicals Management Division
Environmental Protection Branch
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Email: ec.interdiction-prohibition.ec@canada.ca
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Useful Links
Consultation document: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-
climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-
registry/proposed-amendments-certain-toxic-substances-2018-
consultation.html
Notice of intent: http://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2018/2018-10-
13/html/notice-avis-eng.html#ne2
Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012:
https://Canada.ca/prohibited-chemical-substances
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Useful Links
PFOS: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-
environmental-protection-act-registry/perfluorooctane-sulfonate-salts-precursors.html
PFOA, LC-PFCA and 4 New fluorotelomer-based substances:
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-
protection-act-registry/substance-prohibition-summary-perfluorooctanoic-acid.html
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