In Canada, the Ministries of Health and the Environment have released draft screening assessment reports for 12 substances of Batch 10 of the Chemicals Management Plan and cobalt sulphate. The reports include recommendations to control hydrazine and require companies to report new uses a nickel substance and resin and rosin acids fumarated barium salts.
The Government is proposing that hydrazine, and its aqueous form, hydrazine hydrate, are added to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and has recommended options for risk management focussing on the prevention or minimisation of releases of hydrazine into water. It also proposes that future uses of the substance are notified. Hydrazine is an industrial chemical used mainly as a corrosion inhibitor in boiler water used at power generating plants, says a Government statement.
Further, the Government is has recommended that Significant New Activity provisions of CEPA be applied to two additional substances:
Nickel bis[2,3-bis(hydroxyimino)-N-(2-methoxyphenyl)butanamidato]
Resin and rosin acids fumarated barium salts (RFBS)
While draft assessments indicate these substances do not pose a risk at this time, the Government says that any proposed new manufacture, import or use of these two chemicals should be subject to further assessment.
Proposed risk management information on Batch 10 substances is also provided for those considered likely to require actions to reduce risks. A 60-day public comment period associated the proposals ends on 25 August.