,On 25 March 2026 Canada Gazette, Part II (Government of Canada) Published that On March 13, 2026, the Governor in Council registered Order SOR/2026-47, adding hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl-, 2-ethylhexyl ester (also known as 2-ethylhexyl 2-ethylhexanoate; CAS No. 7425-14-1; molecular formula C₁₆H₃₂O₂) to Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) as a toxic substance. The Order came into force immediately upon registration. This addition follows a full assessment under the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP). The substance was found to meet the human health toxicity criterion under paragraph 64(c) of CEPA due to potential developmental and liver toxicity risks, particularly from use in cosmetics. It is not manufactured or imported in Canada in significant quantities and is already subject to cosmetic concentration limits, but listing on Schedule 1 (Part 2) now enables targeted risk-management measures, such as pollution-prevention instruments or possible prohibitions, while prioritising human health protection. The Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement confirms no immediate costs or new compliance burdens, as the Order itself imposes no requirements - it simply authorises future regulatory actions. Extensive public consultations (2017–2019) received no comments. The move aligns with international approaches (EU, US, Australia) and supports Canada’s strengthened CEPA framework for a healthier environment. This is the first substance added to the revised Part 2 of Schedule 1 following the 2023 CEPA amendments.
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