Implementing the modernized Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

Bill S-5, Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act received Royal Assent on June 13, 2023. This Bill modernizes the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA or the “Act”) by recognizing, in its preamble, the right to a healthy environment as provided under the Act, strengthening Canada’s chemicals management regime and increasing transparency in the way it is administered.

The Government of Canada is working to implement the modernized Act through the development of various initiatives for which there are opportunities for public input and participation. These initiatives include frameworks, policies, strategies, regulations, and processes.

Planned public consultation opportunities

The following list enumerates the timing of public consultation opportunities for upcoming initiatives that will support a strengthened and modernized CEPA. All consultations listed below will be for 60 days unless noted otherwise.

Timing of the consultations is based on the best information available at the time of publication of this web page and is subject to change. Please check back regularly for updates.

List of planned public consultation opportunities:

Consultation document for regulations respecting Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity and Reproductive Toxicity (CMR) of a substance (2026)
Proposed regulations respecting Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity and Reproductive Toxicity (CMR) of a substance (2027)

Get involved

Open public consultations are posted below. Please, refer to the list of planned public consultation opportunities for the schedule of planned consultations.

There are currently no open public consultations

Key initiatives

Right to a healthy environment

The Government of Canada has developed an Implementation framework for the right to a healthy environment under CEPA; that sets out how the Government of Canada will consider the right in the administration of the Act to fulfill the Government’s duty to protect the right. The Framework considers comments received during the public comment periods on a discussion document, which closed in April 2024, and the draft implementation framework, which closed in December 2024. To find out more, please click on the following link: Implementation framework for the right to a healthy environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).

Strengthening Canada’s chemicals management regime

The Government of Canada has developed a multi-year, integrated Plan of Priorities (the Plan) that outlines risk assessment priorities and other key initiatives that support chemicals management. These initiatives include information gathering, research and monitoring, risk management, and risk communication. The Plan also links to a Strategy to guide the replacement, reduction or refinement of vertebrate animal testing under CEPA, as outlined below. The Plan considers comments received during the public comment period on the proposed Plan, which closed in December 2024. Comments were summarized in the What we heard: Proposed Plan of Priorities report. To find out more, please click on the following link: Plan of Priorities under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).

Replace, reduce or refine vertebrate animal testing
The Government of Canada has developed a Strategy to guide continued efforts to replace, reduce or refine vertebrate animal toxicity testing under CEPA. The Strategy describes five key elements and responds to the commitment under CEPA’s Plan of Priorities related to vertebrate animal testing. The Strategy considers comments received during the public comment periods on the notice of intent, which closed in January 2024, and the draft strategy, which closed in November 2024. To find out more, please click on the following link: Strategy to replace, reduce or refine vertebrate animal testing under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).

Increasing transparency - The Watch List

The Watch List is a new requirement under CEPA that seeks to provide greater transparency in the identification of substances of potential concern to interested parties and the public. The Government of Canada has developed the Watch List Approach, which describes the considerations and processes by which the Watch List will be administered. The Watch List includes substances that have been assessed as not currently meeting the criteria for toxic substances under S.64 of CEPA that may be of potential concern if exposure or hazard characteristics were to change in the future. To find out more, please click on the following link: Watch List.

Integrated Chemical Mixtures Project

In 2023, Environment and Climate Change Canada launched the Integrated Chemical Mixtures Project. The Project aims to develop an approach to increase our understanding of the effects from real-world chemical mixtures that may be present in the environment. New information generated will support the protection of the environment and human health from harmful chemical substances. To find out more, please click on the following link: The integrated chemical mixtures project - Canada.ca.

Useful information

Closed consultations

Draft implementation framework for the right to a healthy environment

Public comment period: October 5, 2024 to December 4, 2024

Public comments received: A summary of the input received through this consultation is available in a What we heard report.

Discussion document on the implementation framework for a right to a healthy environment

Public comment period: February 8, 2024 to April 8, 2024

Public comments received: A summary of the input received through this consultation is available in a What we heard report.

Proposed Plan of Priorities

Public comment period: October 5, 2024 to December 4, 2024

Public comments received: A summary of the input received through this consultation is available in a What We Heard report.

Draft Strategy to replace, reduce or refine vertebrate animal testing

Public comment period: September 14, 2024 to November 13, 2024

Public comments received: A summary of the input received through this consultation is available in a What we heard report.

Notice of Intent - Strategy to replace, reduce or refine vertebrate animal testing

Public comment period: November 30, 2023 to January 29, 2024

Public comments received: A summary of the input received through this consultation is available in a What we heard report.

The Proposed Watch List Approach

Title: Implementing the modernized Canadian Environmental Protection Act: proposed Watch List Approach

Public comment period: October 5, 2024 to December 4, 2024

Public comments received: 30 comments were received on the proposed Approach document during the consultation period. All comments are taken into account in the developed Watch List Approach.

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