Chemical Substances
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The Rapid Screening Approach
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Based on the results from the categorization of substances on the Domestic Substances List (DSL) 1066 substances were identified for application of a rapid screening approach. These substances included those that met categorization criteria as being inherently toxic (ecological) and either persistent or bioaccumulative (but not both), in addition to being in commerce in low quantities (maximum use in Canada of 1000 kg per year based on 1986 data) and are therefore expected to be of lower concern. Sixty-one substances initially included in the approach have been withdrawn for a variety of reasons. The rapid screening approach has now been applied to 1005 substances believed to be of low concern. None of the substances met categorization criteria for human health.
- Final Screening Assessment of Substances of Low Concern
- Updated Draft Screening Assessment of Substances of Low Concern
- Draft Screening Assessment of Substances of Low Concern
- Background
Final Screening Assessment of Substances of Low Concern
In April 2013, the 
Final screening assessment of substances of low concern was released and the related Notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 147, No. 17 - April 20, 2013 ( PDF Version - 2,214 K).
The final screening assessment concluded that 533 of the 1005 substances of low concern do not meet the criteria as set out in section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999).
Substances Recommended For No Further Action
The Government of Canada concluded that, based on available information, 533 of the substances do not meet the criteria set out under section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999).
The Government is committed to identifying and addressing all substances that may pose risks to the environment or to human health. Therefore, in order to validate the assumptions made under this rapid screening approach, further information regarding the current quantities of these substances that are in commerce in Canada will be obtained through the Government's Domestic Substances List Inventory Update program.
Substances Requiring Further Assessment
The remaining 472 of the 1005 substances which underwent rapid screening have been identified as requiring further screening assessment in order to evaluate their potential to cause harm. These substances will be addressed with other substances moving forward in the Chemicals Management Plan.
Updated Draft Screening Assessment of Substances of Low Concern
In June 2011, the updated draft screening assessment of substances of low concern was released and the related Notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 145, No. 25 - June 18, 2011 ( PDF Version - 1399 K).
There was a 60-day comment period (between June 18, 2011 and August 17, 2011) associated with this publication. Public comments were received, and are summarized in the Response to comments received following the Publication after Screening Assessment of 545 Low Concern Substances on the Domestic Substances List.
Following the close of the public comment period, all information that was received relating to the updated draft screening assessment was considered in the preparation of the final screening assessment.
Draft Screening Assessment of Substances of Low Concern
In June 2007, a summary of the screening assessment of substances of low concern using the rapid screening approach, was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 141, No. 25 - June 23, 2007 ( PDF Version - 1863 K).
There was a 60-day comment period (between June 23, 2007 and August 22, 2007) associated with this publication. Public comments were received, and are summarized in the Response to comments received following the Publication after Screening Assessment of 754 Low Concern Substances on the Domestic Substances List
Following the close of the public comment period, all information that was received relating to the draft screening assessment was considered in the preparation of the updated draft screening assessment.
A draft issue paper outlining this rapid screening approach (ecological considerations) was released on the CEPA Registry website on December 9, 2006. This paper was revised and a final version entitled Technical Approach for "Rapid Screening" of Substances of Lower Ecological Concern was released in June, 2007.
Background
An important initiative under the Chemicals Management Plan is the rapid screening of substances that the Government considers to be of low concern. The rapid screening approach uses a series of qualitative and quantitative steps to efficiently evaluate the likelihood that a substance may cause harm, given conservative estimates of exposure. At each step in the rapid screening process, any substance that appears to present a potential for harm will be identified as requiring further assessment. For those substances that pass through all steps of the rapid screening without being identified as requiring further assessment, the Government will conclude that the substances are unlikely to meet the criteria set out in paragraphs 64(a), (b) or (c) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The Government's intent to apply a rapid screening approach was announced in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 140 No. 49 - December 9, 2006 ( PDF Version - 1478 K).
