A formal gazette outlining changes to Schedule 3 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), the Export Control List (ECL), was released by Canada on February 25, 2026. In order to guarantee Canada's adherence to its international commitments under the Rotterdam Convention and the Stockholm Convention, the modifications include new restricted chemical compounds.
Important Changes
1. Novel Substances Under Control
Part 2 Additions (needing importing nations' prior informed consent):
-
Among its many uses, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a flame retardant used in building insulating foam.
-
Products that repel water and oil contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts, and its precursors.
-
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, are flame retardants found in electronics, furniture, and other products.
-
Phorate: Because it is listed in Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention, it was moved from Part 3 to Part 2.
Part 3: Domestically Restricted Use Additions
-
Firefighting foam and semiconductors are examples of products that use long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs, C9–C21).
-
Ferbam: A fungicide prohibited because of health hazards.
-
Dechlorane Plus (DP) is a flame retardant that has regulations that go into force around 2030 but are delayed by five years.
2. Changes to Current Entries
Several existing entries in Schedule 3 had technical modifications, including:
-
Updated descriptions of compounds like polychlorinated terphenyls and polybrominated biphenyls.
-
CAS numbers for particular compounds are clarified.
-
Conformity to national laws, the Stockholm Convention, and the Rotterdam Convention.
Dates of Effect
The Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025, and the majority of the changes will go into force simultaneously. Dechlorane Plus (DP) controls will be postponed for five years in order to correspond with domestic rules' exemption periods.
