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Survey on the Review of Living Organisms Provisions of the New Substances Notification Regulations

Environment Canada (EC) and Health Canada's (HC) New Substances Program has initiated the review of the Living Organisms (LO) provisions of the New Substances Notification Regulations (NSNR). In order to prepare for this process, the program will be holding Information Sessions on the Regulations. To help plan these sessions, EC and HC are requesting that ENGOs complete the online survey

Note: Some questions in the survey may not apply to you; please bypass these questions and send your completed form by August 19, 2005 to: nsn-infoline@ec.gc.ca

To read info sheets on the NSNR and its LO provisions, visit EC’s website

The proposed new regulatory framework divides the proposed NSNR into two separate regulations: the NSNR (Chemicals and Polymers) and the NSNR (Organisms). These will replace the current NSNR while continuing to ensure the same level of protection for the environment and human health. The new framework achieves two main goals:

  • To reduce the complexity of the current NSNR (Chemicals and Polymers) by using plain language and flowcharts to give manufacturers and importers a "roadmap" of the notification requirements under the proposed NSNR.
  • To separate the provisions governing chemicals and polymers (including biochemicals and biopolymers) and organisms (animate products of biotechnology as defined under Part 6 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) into two stand alone regulations, thus clarifying to manufacturers and importers the requirements pertinent to them.
All of the revised Regulations are expected to come into force simultaneously in 2005. Environment Canada and Health Canada will publish updated Guidelines to facilitate understanding of, and compliance with, the changes to the new substances notification and assessment process for chemicals and polymers. Until these new Guidelines are finalized, the existing Guidelines for the Notification and Testing of New Substances: Chemicals and Polymers (August 2001) will be in effect to the extent they are consistent with the proposed Regulations.
 
Review process for the NSNR pertaining to Living Organisms
 
  • The Consultation Plan will be posted on the New Substances Program website, by the end of June, 2005.
  • EC are creating an extensive stakeholder database. This will be the primary tool used to keep identified stakeholders informed on and involved in the Review.
  • EC will distribute a questionnaire to a list of stakeholders in June, 2005. The objective of this questionnaire is to gauge the level of interest stakeholders have in the multistakeholder information sessions and the workshop.
  • An invitation to the multistakeholder information sessions will be sent in July to those who will have responded to the questionnaire. A reminder notice will be sent out in September.
  • A draft Backgrounder Document on the New Substances Program and an invitation to the multistakeholder information Sessions will be posted on the New Substances website in mid-July.
  • Up to five regional multistakeholder information sessions will take place in the fall of 2005.
  • Dialogue at the workshop will be centred on the discussion document which will be posted on the New Substances website in the fall of 2005. The two-day workshop will be convened in late fall or early winter.

For more information on the process, please view the Letter from EC to Stakeholders.

If you require additional information, please contact Barbara Schaefer, RCEN Caucus Coordinator, tel: (613) 728-9810 ext. 30

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