New substances: international cooperation on chemical and polymers

Canada's leadership in sharing expertise in science, technical and policy matters and in working towards regulatory cooperation with other international jurisdictions is demonstrated by the country's involvement in various initiatives on the subject of new substances. These initiatives include cooperative arrangements with the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) of Australia, and with the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States. The New Substances program is involved with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) New Industrial Chemicals Task Force. Through Canada's participation in these and other international activities, the New Substances program is rising to the challenges of a more global approach to chemical management that incorporates knowledge sharing in science, regulations and policies pertaining to new substances.

International Strategy

The New Substances program is directing its efforts whereby Canada works With other countries to find common ways of doing business that will improve decision-making and increase efficiency about new chemicals and polymers in Canada and internationally. Regulatory cooperation with other international jurisdictions in the area of new substances will remain on our agenda for years to come. The " Finding Common Ground : An International Strategy for Canada's New Substances Program (Chemicals and Polymers)" presents the guiding principles, objectives and strategies and expected results from the New Substances program's involvement in international activities. It also describes some of the challenges and opportunities associated with international activities.

• Finding Common Ground: An International Strategy for Canada's New Substances Program (Chemicals and Polymers)

Cooperation with Australia

• Cooperative Arrangement between the Commonwealth of Australia, as represented by the Director, National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) of Australia and the Department of the Environment of Canada and the Department of Health of Canada, on the Subject of Sharing Information on New Industrial Chemicals
  
  
  • Appendices I to V
• New Substances Program Advisory Note 2007-09: Australia Recognizes Canada as a "Competent Authority" Under its Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989

Cooperation with the United States of America

• The Information Note on the bilateral "Consultations on Substance Management" (COSM) meeting

United Nations Initiatives

• The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)
  
• The U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform
  
• The U.N. Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP)
  
• The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS)
  
• The Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC)

OECD Chemicals Programme

• Chemical safety and biosafety

Development of Principles, Methods and Other Practical Instruments

• Good Laboratory Practice
  
• OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals
  
• Classification and Labelling of Chemicals

Chemicals Assessment

• Assessment of chemicals
  
  
  • History: From the High Production Volume Chemicals (HPV) Chemicals Programme to the Cooperative Chemicals Assessment Programme

Chemicals Management

• Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD)
  
• Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response