Canada Adds Distillate Fuel Oil to Toxic Substances List

Canada has added fuel oil, No 2 to schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (Cepa) – the toxic substances list. Its addition will enable the government to propose risk management instruments to manage potential environmental risks.

The distillate fuel oil was assessed under the petroleum sector stream approach of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP). This addressed approximately 160 petroleum substances considered to be a high priority for risk assessment.

The final screening assessment for the fuel oil, published in February 2015, found the substance may cause harm to organisms when spilled during its production, formulation, transportation and use. It was therefore concluded to meet the environmental criterion for a toxic substance under section 64 of Cepa, because it is entering the environment in a quantity or concentration that has an immediate or long-term harmful effect.

A risk management strategy must be finalised no later than August 2018.