On Saturday the Government of Canada published proposed regulations for Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits.

WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT APPLY TO: Maximum VOC limits for 163 categories of products including (but not limited to) architectural coatings, automotive refinishing products, personal care products, maintenance products and adhesives. Would prohibit for sale any products exceeding the VOC limits.

WHO DOES IT APPLY TO: Anyone manufacturing, importing or offering for sale one of these products in Canada.

WHEN: Expected to take effect as early as January 1, 2010.

LINKS TO THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS:

The proposed Regulations would apply to the 49 categories of architectural coatings identified in column one of subsection 1(2) of the schedule to the proposed Regulations (the Schedule). The coating categories and associated exceptions were chosen to align Canada’s categories, where appropriate, with those in the OTC Model Rule, with additional adjustments provided to account for conditions unique to Canada and reflect developments in low-VOC technologies.

The objective of these proposed Regulations is to establish concentration limits for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 14 categories of automotive refinishing products… The analysis indicated that establishing VOC concentration limits similar to CARB SCM would yield the maximum potential technical and economic level of VOC emissions reductions in Canada.

The objective of these proposed Regulations is to establish concentration limits for VOCs in 98 categories of consumer products… These proposed Regulations were developed to align with provisions of the CARB CONS-1 rule.

The four parts of the certain products regulations cover four types of products:

  1. Personal Care Products
  2. Maintenance Products
  3. Adhesives, Adhesive Removers, Sealants and Caulks
  4. Miscellaneous Products

To speak to a Nexreg representative about how these regulations will impact your company, please call or e-mail Nexreg at:

Nexreg Toll Free: 1-866-361-3032
Non-Toll Free: (519)488-5126 (London, ON, Canada)
E-mail:info@nexreg.com