Canada’s VOC Regs for Certain Products – Are you Ready?

By Tammy J. Murphy, regulatory affairs manager, Supply Chain team, UL Solutions

Are you ready for the fast-approaching Jan. 1, 2024, in force date that was established by the Government of Canada for the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits and Emission Potentials for the manufacture and import of products? Although the publication of the new regulations was well over a year ago (Jan. 5, 2022), there were staggered in force dates.

The Regulations themselves came into force on Jan. 1, 2023, with the limits and emission potentials for the manufacture and import of products coming into force on Jan. 1, 2024.  The Jan. 1, 2024, in force date applies to all products listed in the Schedules with the exception of Disinfectants. The in-force date for Disinfectants is Jan. 1, 2025, as this allows for potential reformulation of products and, if required, approval by the Government.

The Regulations establish maximum VOC concentration limits as well as maximum emissions potential for approximately 130 products and sub-categories of products which can be found in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2. The Regulations apply to manufacturers and importers of these products as both the manufacture and import of the designated products with VOC limits in excess of the established limits will be prohibited, unless a permit is granted.

Please refer to our earlier article, Canada Published VOC Regulations for Certain Products, for additional information.

The reader is also strongly encouraged to read the full text of the Regulations for complete details.

References

• “Volatile Organic Compound Concentration Limits for Certain Products Regulations.” Canada Gazette, Part II, 5 January 2022 edition.
• Environment and Natural Resources Certain Products and Volatile Organic Compounds website.