As we mentioned in Health Canada Cracking Down on Non Compliant Labels and in CCCR Recalls Continue a number of products have been recalled for non-compliance with CCCR-2001 and the cosmetics regulations.  Recently two more products, both packaged in “pressurized containers” have been recalled, both for “lack[ing] the symbol and warnings required for potentially flammable and explosive products. The lack of labelling information including appropriate warnings could potentially result in misuse of this product and lead to serious injury.”

The products are:

• A tanning mist
• A hair spray

The full set of recalls - available here.

Nexreg is giving a presentation at the Southern Aerosol Technical Association’s annual conference.  Topic of the presentation - Canadian compliance, including issues such as CCCR-2001 and proposed VOC regulations.  For anyone who is interested a copy of the slides is available here.

As we mentioned in Health Canada Cracking Down on Non Compliant Labels a number of products have been recalled for non-compliance with CCCR-2001 and the cosmetics regulations.  We have identified 14 products that have been recalled for label violations this year:

• Sep. 2008: Spa chemicals (lack of child proof cap)
• Sep. 2008: Paint solvent (lack of child proof cap)
• Sep. 2008: Film barrier lubricant (flame projection too long)
• Sep. 2008: Stainless steel polish aerosol (flammability)
• Sep. 2008: Carburetor cleaner (flame projection too long)
• Sep. 2008: Deodorant (flammability)
• Sep. 2008: Grout (lack of child proof cap)
• Aug. 2008: Spray truck bed coating (flame projection too long)
• Aug. 2008: Aerosol engine cleaners (flammability)
• Jul. 2008: Spray foundation (flammability)
• Jul. 2008: All purpose cleaner (flammability)
• Jul. 2008: Aerosol hair product (flammability)
• May 2008: Home fragrances (flammability)
• Apr 2008: Leather cleaner (child proof cap)

If you are have any doubts about the compliancy of your chemical products, please do not hesitate to contact us. More information about our label review services can be found here:

• Canadian Consumer Label Review
• Canadian Industrial Label Review
• Canadian Cosmetic Product Label Review

We can be contacted at:

Nexreg Toll Free: 1-866-361-3032
E-mail:info@nexreg.com

First update, dealing with chlorinated paraffins, from Canada Gazette:

Chlorinated paraffins refer to three classes of substances: short chain chlorinated paraffins (i.e. chlorinated paraffins with 10–13 carbon atoms), medium chain chlorinated paraffins (i.e. chlorinated paraffins with 14–17 carbon atoms) and long chain chlorinated paraffins (i.e. chlorinated paraffins with 18 or more carbon atoms). In Canada, these substances are mainly used in metalworking, in plastics/rubber and as lubricating additives.

Chlorinated paraffins were initially assessed under the first Priority Substances List program. The assessment report concluded that short chain chlorinated paraffins constitute or may constitute a danger to human health or life as set out in CEPA 1999 (see footnote 1); however, data identified at that time were considered insufficient to conclude whether short, medium or long chain chlorinated paraffins were harmful to the environment or whether medium or long chain chlorinated paraffins were considered a danger to human health. Discussions aimed at managing the risks posed by short chain chlorinated paraffins were engaged with stakeholders under the framework of the Toxic Substances Management Policy. However, risk management discussions were suspended, pending the generation and review of new information concerning the risk of chlorinated paraffins to human health and the environment.

Final follow-up assessment report on chlorinated paraffins

Environment Canada and Health Canada conducted the follow-up assessment report on chlorinated paraffins pursuant to section 68 of CEPA 1999.

The final assessment concludes that

• all chlorinated paraffins meet the criteria under paragraph 64(c) of CEPA 1999; and
• chlorinated paraffins containing up to 20 carbon atoms (short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins, as well as liquid long chain paraffins) meet the criteria under paragraph 64(a) of CEPA 1999.

Based on conclusions of the assessment, it is therefore recommended that all chlorinated paraffins be added to the Schedule 1 of CEPA 1999.

Furthermore, chlorinated paraffins containing up to 20 carbon atoms are predominantly anthropogenic and the available data regarding their persistence and bioaccumulation potential indicates that they satisfy the criteria outlined in the Persistence and Bioaccumulation Regulations, made under CEPA 1999. Chlorinated paraffins containing up to 20 carbon atoms thus meet the criteria for virtual elimination (see footnote 2) of releases to the environment as set out in the Toxic Substances Management Policy.

The second update, on a variety of substances, available here:

Chemical substances used in human activity can have detrimental effects on the environment and human health when released in a certain quantity or concentration in the environment. Scientific assessments of the impact of human and environmental exposure to a number of these substances have determined that these substances are toxic to human health and the environment as per section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999).

The objective of the proposed Order Adding Toxic Substances to Schedule 1 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (hereinafter referred to as the proposed Order) made pursuant to subsection 90(1) of CEPA 1999, is to add the following substances:

1. Propanedinitrile, [[4-[[2-(4-cyclohexylphenoxy)ethyl]ethylamino] -2-methylphenyl]methylene]- (CAS No. 54079-53-7);
3. Methyloxirane (CAS No. 75-56-9);
4. Ethyloxirane (CAS No. 106-88-7);
5. Naphthalene (CAS No. 91-20-3);
6. Toluene diisocyanates (three substances: CAS No. 26471-62-5, 584-84-9 and 91-08-7);
7. 1,2-Benzenediol (CAS No. 120-80-9);
8. 1,4-Benzenediol (CAS No. 123-31-9).

to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of CEPA 1999. This addition would enable the departments to develop management measures with respect to taking preventive or control actions in relation to these substances.

Click on the links for more information.

Another item of interest in the Canada Gazette:

Whereas the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health have assessed information pertaining to the substance Butanamide,
3-oxo-, Chemical Abstracts Service No. 5977-14-0;

And whereas the Ministers suspect that the substance is toxic;

The Minister of the Environment, pursuant to paragraph 84(1)(a) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, hereby permits the manufacture or import of the substance in accordance with the conditions of the following annex.

Click on the above link for more information.

From the Canada Gazette:

Provision currently exists in the Food and Drug Regulations for the use of allura red, sunset yellow FCF and tartrazine as colouring agents in a variety of food products, including fish roe (caviar) at a maximum level of use of 300 ppm, singly or in combination. Brilliant blue FCF is permitted as a colouring agent in various foods, including fish roe (caviar) at a maximum level of use of 100 ppm, singly or in combination with fast green FCF.

Health Canada has received a submission to permit the use of a blend of allura red, brilliant blue FCF, sunset yellow FCF and tartrazine as colouring agents in lumpfish caviar at a level of 800 ppm. The maximum level of use for allura red, sunset yellow FCF and tartrazine, singly or in combination, would be 550 ppm and the maximum level of use for brilliant blue FCF would be 300 ppm. Evaluation of available data supports the safety and effectiveness of allura red, brilliant blue FCF, sunset yellow FCF and tartrazine as colouring agents in the production of lumpfish caviar.

The use of allura red, brilliant blue FCF, sunset yellow FCF and tartrazine will benefit consumers by increasing the availability of quality food products. It will also benefit industry through more efficient and improved manufacturing conditions.

Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to recommend that the Food and Drug Regulations be amended to permit the use of allura red, sunset yellow FCF and tartrazine as colouring agents in the production of lumpfish caviar, singly or in combination, at a maximum level of use of 550 ppm, and to permit the use of brilliant blue FCF as a colouring agent in the production of lumpfish caviar at a maximum level of use of 300 ppm with a total level of the four colours not to exceed 800 ppm.

Click on the above link for more information.

An annoucement from Health Canada:

The Licensed Natural Health Products Database will allow Canadians to quickly and easily search for more detailed information on natural health products that have been authorized for sale in Canada…

Canadians will be able to use the database to search for information on approved natural health products including authorized health claims and recommended uses, risk information such as warnings and cautions, and medicinal ingredients associated with the product. It will be updated regularly as more products are licensed.

The database will also help practitioners, pharmacists and Canadians determine which products have been assessed by Health Canada and have found to be safe, effective and of high quality under their recommended conditions of use.

Canadians are also reminded that natural health products that have been authorized for sale are issued a Natural Health Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM), which appears on the product’s packaging.

The Licensed Natural Health Products Database is available on the Health Canada Web site.

Click on the above link for more information or go directly to the database.

From the Canada Gazette:

The proposed Regulations will add PFOS and its salts to the Virtual Elimination List compiled under subsection 65(2) of CEPA 1999, as required by subsection 3(1) of the Act.

The Ministers of Environment and of Health are required by the Act to propose the addition of PFOS and its salts to the Virtual Elimination List of CEPA 1999. No other alternative is acceptable under the Act.

Perfluorooctane sulfonates are not manufactured in or exported from Canada. However, in the past, they were typically imported as raw chemicals and in products and formulations. An Environment Canada use pattern survey undertaken in 2000 indicated that, from 1997 to 2000, an estimated 318 tonnes of PFOS was used in Canada. The primary uses of these substances were in applications involving water, oil, soil and grease repellents for fabric, leather, packaging and rugs and carpets, for both domestic and commercial use, and as additives in firefighting foams and paints and coatings. Between 2000 and 2002, the primary international manufacturer of PFOS voluntarily phased out its production of PFOS. The use trend in Canada, therefore, significantly dropped since 2002.

Click on the above link for more information.

From Canada’s Natural Health Products Directorate - four monographs:

• New Monograph - Creatine Monohydrate
• Updated Monograph - Iron
• Updated Monograph - Glucosamine
• Information Update on the Product Resolve

Click on the links for more information.

From The Government of Canada:

On August 23, 2008, 17 Notices relating to the release of draft screening assessments for the 19 substances in Batch 3 of the Challenge were published in the Canada Gazette Part I, Vol. 142 No. 34 and the draft screening assessments were released on this web site (see below).

There is a 60-day public comment period associated with these publications. Public comments may be submitted (from August 23, 2008 to October 22, 2008) on (a) the draft screening assessments and (b) the proposal to pursue one of the measures as specified under subsection 77(2) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). Details on how to submit public comments can be found within the applicable Canada Gazette Notices for each substance in the tables below. Please note that the public comment periods will not be extended. Given the Government’s commitment to finalizing the screening assessments by the deadlines specified below, any information received after the end of the public comment period may not be taken into consideration in the final assessment report.

A. Substances identified during categorization as persistent, bioaccumulative, and inherently toxic to non-human organisms and believed to be in commercial use in Canada.

• CAS No. 81-68-5
• CAS No. 1594-08-7
• CAS No. 2425-85-6
• CAS No. 2814-77-9
• CAS No. 3468-63-1
• CAS No. 4395-65-7
• CAS No. 6410-09-0
• CAS No. 6410-13-5
• CAS No. 6410-41-9
• CAS No. 6471-01-8
• CAS No. 20241-76-3
• CAS No. 25155-25-3
• CAS No. 60352-98-9
• CAS No. 72243-90-4
• CAS No. 74336-60-0

B. Substances identified during categorization as a high hazard to humans and as having a high likelihood of exposure to individuals in Canada

• CAS No. 110-49-6
• CAS No. 111-15-9
• CAS No. 111-77-3
• CAS No. 1589-47-5

Click on the links for more information.