To be consistent with a recent United Nations Environment Programme recommendation, consider creating a specific exemption for the use of HBCD, or certain time-limited critical uses of HBCD. A specific exemption could be given together with detailed conditions for HBCD production and uses. | At the seventh meeting of the Stockholm Convention’s Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC), established under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Risk Management Evaluation of HBCD was adopted. It was concluded that HBCD should be listed to either Annex A (elimination), Annex B restriction), and/or Annex C (unintentional releases). Additional information is currently being collected on alternatives to determine whether to specify the Annex to the Convention and possible exemptions to be considered by the Conference of the Parties in listing HBCD. Canada is a Party to the Stockholm Convention and is actively participating in examining the available additional information on HBCD. The listing of HBCD to the Convention with or without exemptions will be taken into consideration when domestic measures are developed. |
Environment Canada is encouraged to align domestic restrictions on HBCD with the UN Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP’s) process and actions taken in other jurisdictions. |
Environment Canada is encouraged to delay publication of any final regulatory proposal until the United States Environmental Protection Agency publishes a notice of proposed rule making through its HBCD Action Plan. | Efforts will be made to align domestic risk management measures with actions undertaken in other jurisdictions to the extent that is possible in the Canadian context. The United States Environmental Protection Agency published a notice of proposed rule making for HBCD on March 20, 2012. The government of Canada will publish proposed regulations for HBCD no later than November 12, 2013, and final regulations will be published no later than 18 months thereafter. |
To prevent trade, manufacturing or competitive challenges for the Canadian automobile manufacturers, importers and distributors, Canadian regulatory development should align with United States policy development and rule making. | The United States Environmental Protection Agency published a notice of proposed rule making for HBCD on March 20, 2012. The Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) would require persons who intent to manufacture (including import) or process HBCD for use in consumer textiles, other than for use in motor vehicles, to notify the US EPAninety days prior to undertaking that activity. This would allow the US EPA to evaluate the intended use and, if appropriate, to prohibit or limit that activity before it occurs. This rule would also apply to imported articles containing HBCD. Harmonization with the US EPA risk management measures on HBCD will be considered, to the extent possible. |