Current Regulations

Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent Chlorinated Dioxins and Furans Regulations (SOR/92-267)

The Regulations are designed to protect the environment and humans from releases of chlorinated dioxins and furans. The Regulations prohibit the releases of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) in pulp and paper mill effluents as of July 1, 1992. In the case of many of the existing mills, significant modifications to the bleaching processes were necessary to prevent the formation of chlorinated dioxins and furans. Sufficient time was required in order to implement these changes. In recognition of this, the Regulations included transitional provisions to allow mills to implement the necessary measures to achieve compliance. The Regulations require mill operators to collect composite samples of their final effluent and report on concentrations of all congeners (group of substance of the same category or nature) of polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. The frequency of sampling depends upon whether a mill detects a measurable concentration of 2,3,7,8-TCDD or 2,3,7,8 TCDF and ranges from monthly sampling to annual sampling.

Contact Information:

Linda Maddison
Forest Products Division,
Environment Canada
351 St. Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec   K1A 0H3
Phone number: (819) 953-5046
Fax number: (819) 994-7762
Email address: Linda.Maddison@ec.gc.ca

Publication Information:

Regulatory Text:

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