. /.  
 WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/CAN/110 
17 November 2004 
 
 (04-4951) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original: English/ 
 French 
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   CANADA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   Department of the Environm ent and Department of Health 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   Canadian Enquiry 
Point, 200-270 Albert Street, Ottawa, Onta rio, Canada, K1P 6N7 Tel.:  +1 613 238 3222, 
Fax.:  +1 613 569 7808, E-mail:  info@scc.ca  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:         
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Chemicals and Polymers 
(ICS: 13.020, 71.100) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Proposed New 
Substances Notification Regulations (Chemica ls and Polymers) (pages 3032-3082;  English 
and French) 
6. Description of content:   The proposed New Substances Notification Regulations 
(Chemicals and Polymers)  [the "proposed Regulations"] are the culmination of an extensive 
stakeholder consultation on the chemical s and polymers portion of the existing New 
Substances Notification Regulations  (NSNR) and the New Substances Program ("NS 
Program").  The proposed Regulations impl ement consensus-based recommendations from 
these consultations.    The NS Program ensures that no new substance (chemical, biochemical, polymer, 
biopolymer, or living organism) is imported in to, or manufactured in, Canada before a 
formal assessment of its potential risks to the environment and human health has been 
completed, and any appropriate risk management  measures have been implemented.  Parts I 
and II of the NSNR for chemicals and polymers  came into force in 1994 and were amended 
in 1997 to include both provisions for biochemicals and biopolymers (G/TBT/Notif.96/327) and Part II.1 for new substances that are organisms (G/SPS/N/CAN/13). 
 
 The primary function of the proposed Regul ations remains the same as the existing 
NSNR: both provide the regulatory framework for the notification and assessment of new 
chemicals and polymers. Those proposing to import or manufacture new chemicals or polymers are responsible for providing specific information to the NS Program, as set out primarily in the schedules to the proposed Re gulations.  These notifications may include a G/TBT/N/CAN/110 
Page 2  
 
statement of the uses of the substance, info rmation regarding its physical and chemical 
properties, and/ or toxicity and ecotoxicity da ta.  The amount and nature of the information 
required varies depending on the type of s ubstance (i.e. chemical , biochemical, polymer, 
biopolymer), its intrinsic properties, its intended purpose (research and development, 
contained site-limited intermedia te, contained export-only, etc.), its status in United States 
commerce, and the quantity to be imported or manufactured.  
  The proposed Regulations are part of a new regulatory structure that divides the NSNR into two distinct Regulations:   
1.  New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers) , which will apply to 
chemicals (including biochemicals) and polymers (including biopolymers) that are for a use not covered under other federal legislati on listed in Schedule 2 of the Act;  and  
2.  New Substances Notification Regulations (Organisms) , which will apply to living 
organisms that are for a use not covered under other federal legislati on listed in Schedule 4 
of the Act.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Protection of the environment and human health 
8. Relevant documents:   Canada Gazette, Pa rt I, 30 October 2004 
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Not stated  
Proposed date of entry into force:  Early 2005 
10. Final date for comments:   29 December 2004 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   
 The electronic version of the regulatory text can be downloaded at:   
 http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2004/20041030/pdf/g1-13844.pdf