On 1 May 2026, Health Canada updated guidance regarding requests to assess substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). The update explains that, since June 2023, any person may formally request that the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health assess a substance to determine whether it meets the criteria outlined in section 64 of CEPA. Under the legislation, assessments evaluate whether a substance is entering or may enter the environment in quantities or conditions that could cause immediate or long-term harmful effects on the environment or biological diversity, pose dangers to the environment on which life depends, or present risks to human life or health in Canada. According to Health Canada, requests may involve individual substances, groups or classes of substances, or mixtures and effluents, provided that the substances are clearly identified and supported by a scientific rationale outlining the concerns. If a substance is determined to meet section 64 criteria, risk management actions may subsequently be implemented.
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