Issue 48/2012 - Chemical Regulations

Chemical regulations

Recently, Environment Canada announced that Schedule 1 hazardous substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) will add hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and quinoline substances
.

HBCD is commonly used as a flame retardant in polystyrene, insulation, textiles and other supplies, and quinoline is often used as a sealant
in parking lots and driveways.
In 2011, Environment Canada assessed both substances and found that HBCD met the bioconcentration and persistence criteria under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and quinoline met the persistence criteria
.

The inclusion of HBCD and quinoline in the Schedule 1 hazardous substances list will help Environmental Protection Canada develop a risk management plan for these two substances to address the environmental and human health risks
they cause.
(Wei Song)

A
few days ago, the state of Maine issued a notice "Designated Bisphenol A as a Priority Chemical and the Control of Bisphenol A in Children's Products", which made the following provisions on BPA: (1) Add the definition of "children's food"; (2) include containers of baby food and infant formula in the ban on the sale of children's products containing BPA, which will take effect on January 1, 2013; (3) include children's food containers in the sales ban that will take effect on January 1, 2014; (4) Stipulate that in cases where the composition or packaging of the product is made of polycarbonate plastic or epoxy resin containing bisphenol A, the manufacturer shall specify
the addition of BPA to the product or product packaging.

The French National Assembly also recently passed a new BPA ban
.
The contents include: (1) prohibiting the manufacture, import or export of all food packaging, food containers and household utensils containing bisphenol A; (2) It is forbidden to use medical devices containing certain types of endocrine disruptors (including bisphenol A); (3) Stipulate that products containing bisphenol A and come into contact with food must be labeled, and explain that pregnant women and children under 3 years of age should not use the product; (4) The entry into force of Decree 2011/529/F has been postponed to July 1, 2015, while the ban on baby food containers remains on January 1
, 2013.
(Li Tian)