New guidance for chemicals notification

Canada published a draft New Guidance Document for the notification and testing of new substances: chemicals and polymers.

The new Guidance Document provides assistance for complying with regulatory requirements, including step-by-step instructions for the completion of a New Substances Notification (Chemicals and Polymers) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

The new Guidance Document:

• helps the user to determine whether a substance is subject to notification and the applicable timelines;
• outlines the treatment of confidential information;
• provides guidance on acceptable test methods, alternative information and waiver requests;
• explains how the New Substances program assesses the submitted information; and
• describes the possible decisions following the assessment of a new substance.

The new draft Guidance Document is available for comments until June 30, 2021.

When finalized, this new Guidance Document will replace the 2005 Guidelines for the notification and testing of new substances – chemicals and polymers.