Drugs and Personal Care Products

Since September 2001, substances new to Canada that are present in products regulated under the  Food and Drugs Act (F&DA) have been subject to the  New Substances Notification Regulations (NSNR) of the  Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). These products include pharmaceuticals, biologics, veterinary drugs, cosmetics, novel foods, food additives, natural health products and medical devices. The Environmental Assessment Unit 1 was established to conduct the assessment of notified new substances used in such products in order to mitigate potential environmental and health risk to the general population associated with environmental exposure. The Environmental Assessment Unit 2 (previously the In Commerce Substances Unit) was established to manage the In Commerce List which is a list of substances which were in products that are regulated under the Food and Drugs Act and that were in commerce in the Canadian market between 01 January 1987 and 13 September 2001. This list has subsequently been updated and is known as the revised In Commerce List.