Canada Plans to Expand Its List of Toxic Substances to Include Long-Chain Aliphatic Amines

The Canadian Government wants to add several chemicals to the list of toxic substances in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), including long-chain aliphatic amines (staring with chains of 14 carbon atoms), 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) and its precursors, and chlorhexidine.

In their assessment, published in the Canada Gazette on March 6, the authors characterize the substances as environmental risks. They meet several criteria described in Section 64 of the CEPA. The au-thors see a critical potential for bioaccumulation in them – their ability to build up in and harm aquatic or-ganisms after they are released from consumer and industrial products. Aliphatic amines help the manufacture of polyurethane foam, cleaning agents, and personal care products. They are also intermediate products in the manufacture of other chemicals. Benzothiazoles are used in UV filters or as corrosion inhibitors. Chlorhexidine and its salts are used as antiseptics and antimi-crobial preservatives in products like cosmetics and disinfectants.

Interested parties can make suggestions to the government until May 5.

If you export your chemical products to Canada, you are obligated to label them according to the law and provide the importer with safety data sheets. Contact us at sales@kft.de.

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