Regulatory Cooperation Council: success stories

Health products

Health product submissions

Canada and the United States (U.S.) have established the Common Electronic Submission Gateway for health product approvals.
This gateway:

• lets companies submit information about the market authorization of a health product once for both countries
• is expected to save the Canadian pharmaceutical industry more than $22 million over 10 years in administrative costs alone

Sunscreen pilot project

In February 2017, Canada launched a pilot project for U.S. sunscreens to enter Canada without being quarantined and tested for a second time at the border. This project is expected to save the consumer health product industry $100,000 annually for every sunscreen product.

Energy

Energy efficiency standards

Canada and the U.S. have been working together to harmonize energy efficiency standards for products such as refrigerators and air conditioners.
The most recent efforts to align standards will save:

• Canadians about $1.8 billion in energy costs by 2030
• manufacturers about $1.5 million a year

Transportation

Transportation of dangerous goods

In June 2017, Canada and the U.S. formally recognized each other’s regulations on the transportation of dangerous goods so that businesses no longer have to seek approvals on both sides of the border. This increased efficiency means that Canadians will have more choice and could pay less for products such as propane tanks for outdoor grills.

Locomotive emissions

Canada amended the Locomotive Emissions Regulations (PDF, 3.1 MB) to reduce the amount of harmful air pollutants including nitrogen oxides and particulate matter allowed from trains, as these pollutants contribute to health problems such as heart and lung diseases. The new regulations align Canada’s approach with U.S. Rule for Emissions Standards for Locomotives and Locomotive Engines.

Motor vehicle safety

In 2017, Canada amended the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations to align with the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (PDF, 1.5 MB). Both countries now require the use of electronic stability control (ESC) systems in all heavy vehicles. Requiring ESC systems will benefit both truck tractors and motor coaches by preventing collisions, which will save nearly $18 million for vehicles manufactured in 2018 over their average useful life.

Aquaculture

Net pen aquaculture

Canada and the U.S. pledged to cooperate on marine aquaculture and produced a joint study comparing the regulatory regimes for net pen aquaculture in each country.
The study found that both countries’ regulations:

• lead to the production of healthy and sustainable farmed salmon
• protect wild fisheries and the aquatic environment

Both Canada and the U.S. are committed to:

• ongoing cooperation
• the exchange of regulatory information on aquaculture and the aquatic environment