With the agreement of the European Parliament today, the REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) comes near to final adoption. The European Commission welcomes this vote which brings to an end over three years’ negotiations on a comprehensive reform of manufacturing, marketing, import and use of chemical substances.

To view the complete article, published on the European Commission’s Enterprise and Industry website, please visit: REACH: Commission welcomes European Parliament vote on new EU chemicals legislation

Monograph – Carbon Dioxide-Releasing Laxatives

To view this monograph, published on Health Canada’s website, please visit: Monograph – Carbon Dioxide-Releasing Laxatives

Monograph – Hyperosmotic Laxatives

To view this monograph, published on Health Canada’s website, please visit: Monograph – Hyperosmotic Laxatives

New Single Ingredient Monograph – Feverfew

To view this monograph, published on Health Canada’s website, please visit: New Single Ingredient Monograph – Feverfew

New Single Ingredient Monograph – Melatonin

To view this monograph, published on Health Canada’s website, please visit: New Single Ingredient Monograph – Melatonin

New Single Ingredient Monograph – Beta-Carotene

To view this monograph, published on Health Canada’s website, please visit: New Single Ingredient Monograph – Beta-Carotene

New Single Ingredient Monograph – Vitamin A

To view this monograph, published on Health Canada’s website, please visit: New Single Ingredient Monograph – Vitamin A

Notice of Intent to List Chemicals
Additional Extension of Public Comment Period: anthraquinone

The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65) requires the Governor to publish, and update at least annually, a list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is the lead agency for the implementation of Proposition 65.

On October 13, 2006, OEHHA published a notice in the California Regulatory Notice Register (Register 06, No. 41-Z) announcing the second extension of the public comment period related to OEHHA’s intent to list anthraquinone under Proposition 65 as a chemical known to the state to cause cancer in accordance with the regulatory criteria in Section 12306 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. The October 13 notice initiated a second 60 day public comment period which would have closed on December 19, 2006. OEHHA has received a another request from an interested party seeking further extension of the comment period to allow for the submission of information from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences that may be pertinent to the listing consideration of anthraquinone. OEHHA hereby extends the public comment period for anthraquinone for 60 days to 5 p.m., Tuesday, February 20, 2007.

Written comments provided in triplicate, along with supporting information, may be submitted to:
Ms. Cynthia Oshita
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Street Address: 1001 I Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4010
Sacramento, California 95812-4010
Fax No.: (916) 323-8803
Telephone: (916) 445-6900

Comments may also be delivered in person or by courier to the above address. It is requested, but not required, that written comments and supporting documentation be transmitted via email addressed to: coshita@oehha.ca.gov. In order to be considered, comments must be received at OEHHA by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2007.

To view the complete notice, published on California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment website, please visit: Proposition 65 – Notices of Intent to List

The New Substances Program of Environment Canada and Health Canada will be conducting “screening assessments” of all living organisms listed on the Domestic Substances List (DSL).

Screening assessments are a requirement under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). Under Section 74(b), the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health are required to conduct screening assessments of the living organisms listed on the DSL in order to determine whether the latter are “toxic” or capable of becoming “toxic” as defined under the Act. Section 64 of the Act states that a substance is “toxic” if it is entering or may enter the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that:

1. have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or its biological diversity;
2. constitute or may constitute a danger to the environment on which life depends; or
3. constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health.

To view the complete assessment, published on the Government of Canada’s website, please visit: Information on the Screening Assessment of Living Organisms on the Domestic Substances List (DSL)

Canada Gazette II – Vol. 140, No. 24 — November 29, 2006

Whereas the Minister of the Environment is satisfied that the substances referred to in the annexed Order were, between January 1, 1984 and December 31, 1986, imported into Canada by a person in a quantity of not less than 100 kg in any one calendar year or in Canadian commerce or used for commercial manufacturing purposes in Canada, meeting the requirement set out in paragraph 66 (1)(a) or (b) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999;

Therefore, the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to subsection 66(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 hereby makes the annexed Order 2006-66-05-04 Amending the Domestic Substances List.

Ottawa, November 10, 2006

To view the amendments under this order, published in the Canada Gazette, please visit: Order 2006-66-05-04 Amending the Domestic Substances List

Canada Gazette II – Vol. 140, No. 24 — November 29, 2006
Whereas the Minister of the Environment has been provided with information under either paragraph 87(1)(a) or (5)(a) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 in respect of each substance referred to in the annexed Order;

Whereas, in respect of the substances being added to the Domestic Substances List pursuant to subsection 87(1) of that Act, the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health are satisfied that those substances have been manufactured in or imported into Canada in excess of the quantity prescribed under the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers) by the person who provided the information;

Whereas the period for assessing the information under section 83 of that Act has expired;

And whereas no conditions under paragraph 84(1)(a) of that Act in respect of the substances are in effect;

Therefore, the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to subsections 87(1), (3) and (5) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, hereby makes the annexed Order 2006-87-07-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List.

Ottawa, November 10, 2006

To view the amendments under this order, published in the Canada Gazette, please visit: Order 2006-87-07-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List

This Advisory note is to inform manufacturers and importers of living organisms and other stakeholders of revisions to the Guidelines for the Notification and Testing of New Substances: Organisms. These changes and updates are in part the result of the coming into force of the New Substances Notification Regulations (Organisms) on October 31, 2005.

To view the complete advisory note, published on the Government of Canada’s website, please visit: New Substances Program Advisory Note 2006-05

Canada Gazette I – Vol. 140, No. 47 — November 25, 2006

Whereas, pursuant to subsection 66(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Minister of the Environment has added the substances referred to in the annexed Order to the Domestic Substances List;

Therefore, the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to subsection 66(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, hereby makes the annexed Order 2006-66-05-05 Amending the Non-domestic Substances List.

Ottawa, November 10, 2006

To view the amendments under this order, published in the Canada Gazette, please visit: Order 2006-66-05-05 Amending the Non-domestic Substances List

Canada Gazette I – Vol. 140, No. 47 — November 25, 2006

Whereas, pursuant to subsections 87(1) and (5) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Minister of the Environment has added the substances referred to in the annexed Order to the Domestic Substances List;

Therefore, the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to subsections 87(1) and (5) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, hereby makes the annexed Order 2006-87-07-02 Amending the Non-domestic Substances List.

To view the amendments under this order, published in the Canada Gazette, please visit: Order 2006-87-07-02 Amending the Non-domestic Substances List

Rescinding the Ministerial Conditions pertaining to the substance Pentafluoroethane, Chemical Abstracts Service No. 354-33-6, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on November 25, 2006.

Rescinding the Ministerial Conditions pertaining to the substance 1,1,1-Trifluoroethane, Chemical Abstracts Service No. 420-46-2, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on November 25, 2006.

Rescinding the Ministerial Conditions pertaining to the substance 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoropropane, Chemical Abstracts Service No. 690-39-1, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on November 25, 2006.

Rescinding the Ministerial Conditions pertaining to the substance 1,1,1,3,3-Pentafluorobutane, Chemical Abstracts Service No. 406-58-6, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on November 25, 2006.

Rescinding the Ministerial Conditions No. 10702 pertaining to the substance 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5- Decafluoropentane, Chemical Abstracts Service No. 138495-42-8, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on November 25, 2006.

Rescinding the Ministerial Conditions No. 10997 pertaining to the substance 1,1,1,3,3-Pentafluorobutane, Chemical Abstracts Service No. 406-58-6, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on November 25, 2006.

Rescinding the Ministerial Conditions No. 11304 pertaining to the substance 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5- Decafluoropentane, Chemical Abstracts Service No. 138495-42-8, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on November 25, 2006.

Rescinding the Ministerial Conditions No. 11296/11327 pertaining to the substance 1,1,1,3,3-Pentafluorobutane, Chemical Abstracts Service No. 406-58-6, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on November 25, 2006.

Rescinding the Ministerial Conditions No. 11446 pertaining to the substance Pentafluoroethane, Chemical Abstracts Service No. 354-33-6, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on November 25, 2006.

To view these rescinding orders, please visit: Orders Rescinding Ministerial Conditions for Specific Chemicals in Canada