Substance Groupings Initiative
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The Government of Canada plans to assess and manage, where appropriate, the potential health and ecological risks associated with nine groupings of substances. This initiative began with a Notice of intent for the Aromatic Azo- and Benzidine-based Substance Grouping, published on June 5, 2010. On October 8, 2011 an Announcement that applies to this grouping and eight additional groupings of substances was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol 145, No. 41 - October 8, 2011 (PDF Version - 3,812 K).
The initiative includes the following substance groupings:
- Aromatic Azo and Benzidine-based Substance Grouping
- Boron-Containing Substances
- Certain Organic Flame Retardants Substance Grouping
- Cobalt-Containing Substance Grouping
- Internationally Classified Substance Grouping
- Methylenediphenyl Diisocyanate and Diamine (MDI/MDA) Substance Grouping
- Phthalate Substance Grouping
- Selenium-containing Substance Grouping
- Substituted Diphenylamines Substance Grouping
Stakeholders are invited to indicate their interest in being engaged in discussions on one or more of these substance groupings by completing a Stakeholder Identification Form. If you have other questions or comments, please contact us. Indicate on the envelope or subject line "Substance Groupings Initiative Inquiry".
These substance groupings have been selected for further action based on the categorization exercise completed in 2006 and new information received as part of the first phase of the Chemicals Management Plan. The groupings were identified based on structural or functional similarities and were assembled based on considerations related to assessment efficiencies, management efficiencies, the ability to support informed substitution decisions, timing of international actions and stakeholder engagement. View the List of substances included in the Substance Groupings Initiative.
Timelines
Timelines associated with each substance grouping are available on each grouping's respective web page.