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Release of the final follow-up ecological assessment report on Organotins, and the final decisions on the measures proposed to initiate risk management on these substances
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- Publication of Proposed Order Adding Substances (Tributyltins and Tetrabutyltins) to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999)
- Publication of Order Amending the Domestic Substances List (DSL) to Apply the SNAc Provisions of CEPA 1999 to Fluorotriphenyltin and Tetraphenyltin
- Release of Final Follow-up Assessment Report and Proposed Risk Management Approach Document
- Background
Publication of Proposed Order Adding Substances (Tributyltins and Tetrabutyltins) to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999)
(public comment period October 3, 2009 to December 2, 2009)
On October 3, 2009, a proposed Order adding tributyltins and tetrabutyltins to the List of Toxic Substances, Schedule I of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 143, No. 40, for a 60-day public comment period.
There is a 60-day public comment period for this proposed order, from October 3, 2009 to December 2, 2009.
Publication of Order Amending the DSL to Apply the SNAc Provisions of CEPA 1999 to Fluorotriphenyltin and Tetraphenyltin
On August 19th, 2009, an Order amending the Domestic Substances List (DSL) to apply Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions specified under subsection 81(3) of CEPA 1999 to Fluorotriphenyltin and tetraphenyltin, was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.
Canada Gazette Part II: Vol. 143, No. 17 - Order 2009-87-03-01 amending the Domestic Substances List ( PDF version - 2355 K)
The conclusion of the final screening assessment is that these two substances are currently not entering, or likely to enter, the environment as a result of commercial activity, and therefore that they do not meet the criteria set out in section 64 of the CEPA 1999.
However, given the hazardous properties of flurophenyltin and tetraphenyltin, there is concern that new activities for the two substances could lead to the substances meeting the criteria set out in section 64 of the Act. Therefore the Domestic Substances List has been amended, and these two substances are now subject to the SNAc provisions specified under subsection 81(3) of the Act, which require that any new manufacture, import or use of any of these substances in quantities greater than 100 kg/year is notified and will undergo ecological and human health risk assessments as specified in section 83 of the Act prior to the substance being introduced into Canada.
Release of Final Follow-up Assessment Report and Proposed Risk Management Approach Document
On August 8, 2009, a notice of final decision with respect to the final follow-up ecological assessment of Organotins was published in the Canada Gazette Part I, Vol. 143 No. 30 and the final follow-up report was released on this web site (see below).
A summary of the final follow-up ecological assessment of organotins, as well as the final decisions concerning the measures proposed for certain organotins, is available at:
- Canada Gazette, Part I: Publication of Results of Investigations and Recommendations for the Substances -- Organotins (monomethyltins, monobutyltins, monooctyltins, dimethyltins, dibutyltins, dioctyltins, fluorotriphenyltin, tetraphenyltin, tributyltins, and tetrabutyltin) - Paragraphs 68(b) and 68(c) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 ( PDF version - 1137 K)
- Final Follow-up Assessment Report on Non-Pesticidal Organotin Compounds ( PDF Version - 266 K)
The final assessment concludes that:
- monomethyltins, dimethyltins, monobutyltins, dibutyltins, monooctyltins, dioctyltins, fluorotriphenyltin and tetraphenyltin do not meet the criteria set out in paragraphs 64(a) or (b) of CEPA 1999; and
- tributyltins and tetrabutyltins meet the criterion set out in paragraph 64(a) of CEPA 1999 and furthermore, tributyltins meet the criteria for virtual elimination.
Given the hazardous properties, as well as the potential for persistence and biocaccumulation and the continuing uses of tributyltins and tetrabutyltin, it is recommended that these substances be added to the Schedule I of CEPA 1999. As such, a proposed order to add tributyltins and tetrabutyltins to the List of Toxic substances (Schedule I of CEPA 1999) will be released for a 60-day public comment period.
Fluorotriphenyltin and tetraphenyltin have hazardous properties, but they are not currently manufactured in or imported into Canada. To ensure that these substances are notified and undergo ecological and human health assessments prior to being reintroduced into Canada, an order amending the Domestic Substances List to apply the SNAc provisions of CEPA 1999 to these two substances will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.
A proposed risk management approach document was also released on August 8, 2009. This document outlines the proposed risk management actions for these substances, including the choice of risk management instruments. There is a 60-day public comment period on the proposed risk management approach document, from August 8, 2009 to October 7, 2009. Information on how to submit comments is provided in the proposed risk management approach document.
You may also obtain copies of the final report and the risk management approach document by contacting existing.substances.existantes@ec.gc.ca.
Background
Non-pesticidal organotin compounds, which appeared on the first Priority Substances List (PSL1), were assessed in 1993 to determine whether they met the criteria set out in section 11 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, which is now repealed and replaced by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. For information on the PSL1 assessment on organotins, please visit the Existing Substances Division Web site.
A re-assessment of the ecological impacts of organotins was conducted because subsequent notifications, which included new information on the use and fate of organotins, indicated that these substances could potentially pose risks to the environment.
A draft follow-up ecological risk assessment report on organotins was released in April 2007, and a notice was published indicating the government's proposed measures for these substances. Following the release of this information, there was a 60-day public comment period, from April 21, 2007, to June 20, 2007. During the public comment period, stakeholders could file written comments on the recommendations the Ministers proposed to take, and their scientific basis. The public comments received from stakeholders have been considered and addressed within the final follow-up assessment report, and responses to the comments received are provided at the following link:
