Introduction to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999The primary purpose of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) is to contribute to sustainable development through pollution prevention. It provides the legislative basis for a range of federal environmental and health protection programs, including activities related to:
CEPA enables the Government of Canada to develop a wide range of measures to protect the environment and human health from the risks posed by substances listed on Schedule 1 of CEPA. Labeling requirements is one possible means. They have been used for various purposes, such as requiring the labeling of allowable concentrations in the product and instructions for product disposal. |
On Oct. 29, 2022, Canada published the Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 156, Number 44, including a Notice of Intent on the Labeling of Toxic Substances in Products. 1 According to the notice of intent, the Government of Canada plans to require certain products (including cosmetics) to label the information on substances listed in the List of Toxic Substances (Schedule 1) of CEPA.
Stakeholders can mail any suggestions to Substances@ec.gc.ca before Jan. 12, 2023.
Criteria of Toxic Substances to be Labeled
The Government of Canada will develop criteria for determining which toxic substances shall be labeled. The basic principle is that providing information on these substances can help reduce risks to the environment and/or human health. Criteria may include the following: