More high-priority chemicals up for scrutiny

Ottawa, ON – The federal government says that industrial users of chemicals will have until December 18, 2007 to provide information on how they are safely managing and using 19 chemical substances identified as high priorities for action under the Chemicals Management Plan.

“We are putting industry on notice about these substances,” said Tony Clement, minister of heatlh, in making the announcement. “If the information we receive shows that more needs to be done to safely manage these chemicals, we will work with industry and our stakeholders to take strong and immediate action to protect the health of Canadians and the environment.”

The 19 substances comprise the third in a series of 12 batches of high-priority substances that were identified following the categorization of legacy chemical substances last fall. Government scientists are already analyzing the results received from the first batch of substances, and will do the same with the results from the second batch, once they receive them this fall.

Ultimately, the government will assess the information it receives, along with that gathered from other sources, to decide on the appropriate actions required to protect health and the environment.

Manufacturers, importers and industrial users of high-priority substances will have to provide Environment Canada and Health Canada with information on batches of 15 to 30 substances every few months. There are 193 substances in total, and the process to address all of them will take about three years.