. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/CAN/237 
7 May 2008 
 (08-2173) 
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 Environment 
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: enquirypoint@scc.ca  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [ X  ], 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):   Automotive Refinishing 
Products (ICS: 25.220, 43.020, 43.040, 43.080, 71.100, 77.060) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Proposed Volatile 
Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Automotive Refinishing Products Regulations (31 pages, in English and French) 
6. Description of content:    
The purpose of the proposed Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for 
Automotive Refinishing Products Regulations (the proposed Regulations) to be made 
pursuant to subsection 93(1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999  (CEPA 
1999), is to protect the environment and health  of Canadians by setting concentration limits 
for VOCs in 14 categories of automotive refinishing products.   The proposed VOC concentration limits would apply to automotive refinishing products 
that comprise of chemically formulated produc ts like pre-treatment wash primers, primers, 
primer sealers, colour coatings, clear co atings, truck bed liner  coatings, and surface 
cleaners. These automotive refinishing products  are used to refinish, service, maintain, 
repair, restore, or modify a motor vehicle or mobile equipment or their parts. The use of these automotive refinishing products contribut e to Canadian urban VOC emissions. In 
2005, the urban VOC emissions (excluding emis sions from upstream oil and gas, oil sands 
development and forest fires) in Canada were estimated to be 1 383 kilotonnes. Solvent use 
accounted for 25% of these emissions, with auto motive refinishing products accounting for 
5.5 kilotonnes. The proposed VOC concentr ation limits are expected to reduce VOC 
emissions from these products by an average of 40% per year over 25 years.   G/TBT/N/CAN/237 
Page 2  
 
  The proposed VOC concentration limits are ali gned with the provisions of the California 
Air Resources Board (CARB) suggested control measure (SCM), with some differences to ensure that maximum reductions in VOC emissions  in Canada are effectively and efficiently 
achieved.  Prohibition  
The proposed Regulations would prohibit the manufacture, offer for sale, sale or import of 
automotive refinishing products for use in Cana da with concentrations of VOC in excess of 
the category-specific limits set out in the schedule to the proposed Regulations. 
 
Other provisions   
The proposed Regulations also include provisions  defining methods for the determination of 
VOC concentrations and other test methods, labelling requirements and record keeping. 
These provisions are included to facilitate th e operation and enforcement of the proposed 
Regulations. 
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,  Part I, 26 April 2008, Pages 1295-1325 (available in English and French). 
 
In October 2006, the Government of Canada published the Notice of intent to develop and 
implement regulations and other measures to reduce air emissions (the notice of intent) 
(notified as G/TBT/N/CAN/181). The notice of intent outlined the approach that would be taken for reducing emissions of air pollutants including  a commitment to propose 
regulations that would limit the concentrati on of VOCs in automotive refinishing products. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
 
Proposed date of entry into force:    Normally within 18 months of publication in 
the Canada Gazette , Part I. 
1 January 2010 
10. Final date for comments:   25 June 2008 
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 regulator y text can be downloaded at:   
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2008/20080426/pdf/g1-14217.pdf (Canada Gazette ) 
or  http://canadagazette.gc.ca/pa rtI/2008/20080426/htm l/regle2-e.html
  (English)   
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2008/20080426/html/regle2-f.html (French)