A very important release from the Canada Gazette:

Canada’s Phosphorus Concentration Regulations (the Regulations) came into effect in 1989, and include a concentration limit of 2.2% for laundry detergents. The proposed Regulations Amending the Phosphorus Concentration Regulations (the proposed amendments) would broaden the scope of the Regulations to include other detergents and cleaners, and to lower the limits on permissible phosphorus concentrations. Specifically, the proposed amendments would

    • lower the phosphorus concentration limit for household laundry detergents from the current limit of 2.2% to 0.5%;
    • clarify that a phosphorus concentration limit of 2.2% would still apply to commercial and industrial laundry detergents;
    • introduce a phosphorus concentration limit for household dish-washing compounds of 0.5% (including hand dish-washing soap and detergent for automatic dish-washers); and
    • introduce a phosphorus concentration limit for household cleaners of 0.5%.

The proposed amendments would come into force on July 1, 2010.

Click on the above link for the full proposed regulatory text.