Guidelines for the Notification and Testing of New Substances: Chemicals and Polymers

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How to Use these Guidelines

These Guidelines have been prepared for the benefit of notifiers responsible for complying with the provisions of the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers) (the Regulations) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (the Act). A sequential review of the sections will allow the reader to focus on requirements specific to his or her circumstances. The key to avoiding unnecessary delays or expenses when preparing an NSN package is to thoroughly understand the New Substances (NS) program.

These Guidelines are organized into 10 sections:

1. Introduction and Overview - explains the purpose, statutory powers and features of the NS program.
2. The Inventories - explains the Domestic Substances List (DSL) and the Non-domestic Substances List (NDSL), how these are amended and how to locate a substance specified on them.
3. Substances - helps to determine whether the substance to be manufactured, imported or used must be notified; provides definitions of special categories, substances not subject to notification and substances subject to notification.
4. Notification Information Requirements - if the substance is subject to notification, this section helps identify the appropriate Schedule to be provided and determine when the NSN package must be provided to the Minister or in the case of this Guideline the NS program (the Minister and the NS program is used interchangeably throughout this Guideline).
5. New Substances Notification (NSN) Packages - provides instructions for completing the information required for an NSN package.
6. The New Substances Notification (NSN) Reporting Form - describes the process to complete the NSN reporting form and the meaning and intent of each information requirement; also elaborates when data requirements are not required.
7. Confidential Information - describes issues pertaining to confidential business information, such as confidentiality claims, masking of substance identities and determining the presence of confidential substances listed on the DSL and NDSL.
8. Recommended Test Protocols and Alternative Approaches - provides guidance on acceptable test methods and "alternative" information and describes features of subsection 81(8) of the Act, which provides for the waiver of information requirements when one of several criteria is met. The NS program provides the opportunity for notifiers to submit a Pre-notification Consultation (PNC) submission (see section 8.8 of these Guidelines) to resolve notification issues while the NSN package is being prepared.
9. Processing a New Substances Notification - explains what happens after an NSN package is received, including how the NSN package is processed and reviewed and the types of correspondence that could be issued by the NS program.
10. Post-notification Responsibilities - reviews obligations of notifiers and the NS program after an NSN package has been submitted.

Further clarification and updates on any topic covered by these Guidelines can be obtained from the NS program web site at www.ec.gc.ca/substances/ or by contacting the NSN Information Line by telephone at 1-800-567-1999 (within Canada) or 819-953-7156 (outside Canada), by facsimile at 819-953-7155 or by e-mail: NSN-infoline@ec.gc.ca.