Request to assess a substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
As of June 2023, under subsection 76(1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), any person may request that the Ministers assess a substance to determine if it meets the criteria of section 64 of CEPA. The Ministers may either grant the request and add the substance to the Plan of Priorities or deny the request. Assessments conducted under CEPA must consider the available scientific information to determine whether the substance is entering or may enter the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that:
- have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or its biological diversity
- constitute or may constitute a danger to the environment on which life depends; or
- constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health
If a substance is determined to meet the criteria under section 64, risk management actions may be implemented.
On this page
- Overview of public request process
- Before you submit a request
- Submitting a request for assessment
- Record of requests for assessment
- Contact information
Overview of public request process
Any person can request that the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health consider a substance for assessment. This could be any substance as defined in section 3 of CEPA, such as a discrete substance, a class or group of substances, or a mixture/effluent. The substance(s) of concern need to be clearly identified, and a rationale for the request should be provided.
A request for assessment can be made by filling in the request form (instructions are provided) and submitting it by email. Requests can be submitted at any time; there is no deadline for requests. Should more information be required, the requestor will be contacted for additional clarification. Once a submission is filed, the request will be considered, and the Minister of the Environment will provide a response to the requestor within 90 calendar days. The response will include:
- the decision of whether the substance will be added to the Plan of Priorities; and
- the reasoning as to how the Ministers intend to deal with the request
A brief summary of requests received to date is available in the Record of requests for assessment section.
Before you submit a request
It is recommended that you review the following lists of substances before submitting a request to see if your requested substance has already been addressed or identified as an upcoming priority for assessment:
- Substance Search tool - You can use this tool to see if the substance is on the DSL or if it is referenced in certain legislative or regulatory instruments (for example, substances that are regulated or controlled using certain tools)
- Priority Substances Lists (PSL)—PSL1 & PSL2 are lists of substances prioritized under CEPA 1988 and assessed
- Status of substances prioritized under the Chemicals Management Plan (2006–2024) - You can search this page to determine if a substance has been addressed under the CMP since 2006 or will be addressed
- Schedule 1 of CEPA - Substances that were assessed and concluded as being harmful to human health or the environment as per section 64 of CEPA and added to Schedule 1
- Non-statutory list of substances - Substances that were assessed and concluded as being harmful to human health or the environment as per section 64 of CEPA but were not added to Schedule 1
- CMP risk management actions table - Summary of actions taken on substances that have been concluded as harmful to human health or the environment as per section 64 of CEPA
- Record of requests for assessment– Summary of past requests for assessment and their outcomes
- Plan of Priorities - Includes substances prioritized for assessment under CEPA (proposed plan to be published in summer 2024 and finalized by June 2025)
Submitting a request for assessment
To submit a request for assessment, fill out the Request to assess a substance under section 76 of CEPA in French or English, including:
- your contact information
- information about the substance(s) that you are requesting for assessment
- your rationale outlining your concerns and answers to the questions in the form
Ensure your form is complete to help your request be processed quickly.
Submit the form either:
- Online through Environment and Climate Change Canada's Single Window (a secure portal for organizations to submit information)
- Once you have created an account, select the Chemicals Management Plan from the main page
- From the Chemicals Management Plan Dashboard, create a new CM-General submission
- On the first page, select "s.76 Request to assess" as the submission purpose
- Or by email to substances@ec.gc.ca
For other delivery methods and inquiries, please contact us:
E-mail: substances@ec.gc.ca
Telephone: 1-800-567-1999 (toll-Free in Canada) or 1-819-938-3232 (outside of Canada).
Review our privacy statement for consultations, which applies to requests for assessment.
Record of requests for assessment
The record can be searched for substances that have been previously requested for assessment, along with the outcome of those requests.
| Item | Requested substance | Decision (and rationale) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chemtrails |
The request for assessment was denied On the basis of available scientific information, no evidence was found of the existence of chemtrails, and condensation trails are not considered to be a hazard or to pose any risk to Canadians or the environment. |
| 2. |
1,4-Benzenediamine, N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl- (6PPD) CAS RN: 793-24-8 |
The request for assessment was accepted. Given the available scientific evidence, 6PPD will be added as a priority for assessment to the proposed Plan of Priorities being developed under section 73 of CEPA for consultation. |
| 3. | Oil sands process-affected water naphthenic acids (OSPW NAs) |
The request for assessment was accepted. Given the available scientific evidence, OSPW NAs will be added as a priority for assessment to the proposed Plan of Priorities being developed under section 73 of CEPA for consultation. |
Contact information
For any inquiries, please contact us at:
By email: substances@ec.gc.ca
By telephone: 1-800-567-1999 (Toll Free in Canada) or 1-819-938-3232 (Outside of Canada)
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