Gatineau, Quebec
The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring a clean and safe environment for every generation. Everyone deserves access to clean air and water. That’s why the Government is taking action to tackle pollution from all sectors of the economy including through modernized tools like the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).
Canada is taking the next step to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals”, which is a large class of extremely persistent human-made substances used in a wide range of everyday products, including food packaging, drugs, cosmetics, non-stick cookware, vehicles, and electronics. Worldwide, PFAS can be found in the air, groundwater, oceans, lakes, rivers, and soil, as well as in wastewater and sewage sludge.
Based on the latest available science, the Government has published an updated Draft State of PFAS Report and a revised Risk Management Scope. The Report proposes to conclude that the class of PFAS, excluding fluoropolymers, is entering or may enter the environment at levels that are or may be harmful to human health and the environment.
The Government is proposing a separate assessment to examine the exposure and hazard profile of fluoropolymers. This updated draft report aligns with evidence suggesting that fluoropolymers may have different exposure and hazard profiles than other PFAS. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Health will also consider whether fluoropolymers are possible candidates to the Watch List under section 75.1 of CEPA that will help importers, manufacturers, and Canadian consumers to select safer alternatives and avoid regrettable substitutions—replacing one problem chemical with another that, in turn, becomes a problem. Canadians will be consulted on the process for additions to the Watch List in the near future.
The revised Risk Management Scope proposes a phased approach, starting with a regulation to restrict PFAS not already regulated in firefighting foams, followed by additional measures to prohibit other uses or sectors in relation to PFAS.
The Government will continue to take a science-based approach to protect the health of Canadians and the environment. Interested parties and stakeholders are invited to comment on this update until September 11, 2024.
Canada’s current and upcoming actions on PFAS
Canada is committed to tackling “forever chemicals” and is among the first jurisdictions in the world to address the risks from the full class of PFAS. The Government remains committed to considering the restriction of the class of PFAS in firefighting foams, as noted above in the Revised Risk Management Scope. It continues to collect samples and monitor concentrations of certain PFAS in humans and the environment.
Following the publication of the updated Draft State of PFAS Report, the Government will issue an information collection Notice under section 71 of CEPA. The Notice will target those manufacturing, importing, and using certain PFAS to submit their information to establish baseline data to inform future activities.
Moreover, the Government plans to publish the final version of the updated Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances this fall 2024 to further restrict the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale, and import of the three PFAS subgroups that are already regulated: perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs).
To reduce exposure to PFAS, Health Canada released a draft objective for PFAS in Canadian drinking water in February 2023. The final objective, based on sound science, and with human health at the core, will be published in the coming weeks.
The Government also continues to take further action to reduce the environmental and human health risks from PFAS at known federal contaminated sites. This work may include:
- Providing alternative drinking water sources
- Installing water treatment systems
- Implementing food consumption advisories
- Remediating specific areas of the site to remove PFAS hot spots/source areas
- Long-term monitoring to determine adherence to developed guidelines and screening values.
“Our government is hard at work to protect the health of Canadians and the environment by taking a precautionary science-based approach. Given the thousands of substances in the class of PFAS and their evolving uses, it is imperative that we continue engaging Canadians and the scientific community as we deliver new tools to secure a cleaner environment for all. The information we’ve collected over the past years has allowed us to inform our actions to protect the environment and human health.” – Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
“PFAS, or forever chemicals, are found nearly everywhere in the environment and the research indicates that these chemicals can have detrimental impacts on our health, including effects on the liver, kidney, thyroid, reproduction and development, and immune and nervous systems. Addressing PFAS as a class will allow the Government of Canada to continue to take concrete action to protect Canadians and their environment from harmful exposure to these chemicals.” – Mark Holland, Minister of Health