Environment Canada has published proposed regulations to restrict the manufacture, sale and use of the five substances listed below. The “Proposed Regulations Amending the Canadian Prohibition of Certain Substances Regulations, 2012” were published on April 4, 2015 in the Canada Gazette Part I. The proposed amendment adds five substances to the Prohibition Regulations, including the substances:

• hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD);
• perfluorooctanoic acid, its salts, and its precursors (PFOA);
• perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts, and their precursors (LC-PFCAs);
• olybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs); and
• perfluorooctane sulfonate and its salts and its precursors (PFOS).

These substances have known uses in a variety of consumer and commercial products including several types of electrical and electronic products. A public comment period is open from April 4, 2015 to June 18, 2015.

In general, the substance restrictions take effect immediately after the coming into force of the regulations. Temporary exemptions and long-term permitted uses have been specified for specific applications for some of the substances.