National Office of Pollution Prevention

CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, 1999

Guidelines for Volatile Organic Compounds in Consumer Products
DRAFT

Dear Sir/Madam:

Subject: Draft Guidelines for Volatile Organic Compounds in Consumer Products

In 1999, Environment Canada published a report entitled A Plan to Reduce Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Consumer Products in Canada (excluding windshield washer fluid and surface coatings). This report recommended that guidelines be drafted to describe volatile organic compound (VOC) and high-volatility organic compound limits for consumer products. The intent was to harmonize with the U.S. action: The definitions and VOC limits proposed are essentially those described in the 1998 U.S. Final Rule on the National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards for Consumer Products (1998 U.S. Final Rule).

Please find enclosed a copy of these Guidelines, made pursuant to section 54 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, which are now being distributed for public consultation. It would be appreciated if you could provide your written comments before December 1, 2001.

Environment Canada will consider the comments received before these Guidelines are finalized and a notice is published in the Canada Gazette, Part I.

If you have any questions please contact Dominique Dore from the Controls Development Section at (819) 953-3020, or at dominique.dore@ec.gc.ca.

Sincerely,

Bernard Madé
Chief, Chemicals Control Division
National Office of Pollution Prevention
Environment Canada
Place Vincent Massey
351 St. Joseph Blvd., 12th Floor
Hull, Québec, K1A 0H3
Fax: (819) 994-0007