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CPCA CORNER

CURRENT PAINT

AND COATINGS ISSUES

IN CANADA

By Gary Leroux

Federal Ban on Critical Paint Preservative Reversed try in Canada as these preservatives are part of a very limited array
CPCA was pleased to announce that the Canadian government’s of biocides still registered for use in the coatings industry.
Pest Management Regulatory Agency reinstated the use of OIT for
paint and coatings and related products in Canada. The substance New VOC Limits Coming in 2021
had been prohibited for use in these products since May 2019 and The latest biannual meeting of the sectoral Paint and Coatings
the ban had been a sticking point in discussions around the lack of Working Group took place on December 3, 2020. Regulatory
alignment between Canada and the United States on re-eval- officials from Health Canada and Environment & Climate Change
uation of antimicrobial preservatives. Canada provided updates on multiple sector issues. Members were
The decision to reverse the ban will ensure that paint producers informed that government is now aiming for the adoption of
have access to a critical ingredient used for the preservation of CARB 2019 VOC limits in the proposed amendment to the Archi-
paint and stains, which has been integral to the transition from sol- tectural VOC regs next year. Ten other industrial categories, not
vent to water-based coatings over the past decade. In addition, the covered under current regulations, may be added as part of this
same data used to re-evaluate OIT led to more positive news for in- effort. Members were informed that government seems to be
dustry when the usage rates for another important preservative – aiming for the adoption of CARB 2019 VOC limits in a proposed
CMIT/MIT – reverted to previous functional values in Canada and amendment for 54 categories in the Architectural VOC regulations
into full alignment with the United States. beginning in 2021.
This points to the dire need for officials re-evaluating critical A more formal consultation will take place in the Spring of 2021,
substances to fully consider all the available science-based data in while CPCA continues advocating for the adoption of OTC Phase II
rendering final decisions. Currently, Canada is re-evaluating six limits over CARB, but that may be a difficult road ahead. CPCA
other critical biocides used in coatings and adhesives/sealants and consultations with member companies will resume early in 2021.
a robust submission was made by CPCA and its members to ensure
proper values are used in risk calculations at every level. Declaring Plastics Toxic
There are a number of upcoming publications for chemical assess-
CPCA Submits Major Comments on ments for the coatings sector, several re-evaluations for key biocides
Re-evaluation of Six Critical Paint Biocides used in coatings, and the recently announced plastic waste initiative
In December, CPCA finalized a major submission to the Pest Man- proposes to add ‘manufactured plastic products’ to Schedule 1 of the
agement Regulatory Agency on the ongoing re-evaluation of six Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), designating them
paint biocides used for antimicrobial control, which are critical for as toxic. This would be an unfortunate precedent-setting case that
the coatings industry in Canada, namely, chlorothalonil, ziram, would henceforth capture other manufactured products when the
folpet, dazomet, diodofon, and sodium pyrithione. Supplier and Act was in fact designed to conduct risk assessments on substances
manufacturer members provided critical data to inform industry’s used in products, not the ‘manufactured’ product. This has been
position reiterating the need for holistic re-evaluations of paint done under the Chemicals Management Plan for the past 15 years.
preservatives using risk calculations that are reasonable in terms It is unclear the federal government would make such a process
of toxicity related to risk calculations. work, if indeed it were to proceed.
In the past we have seen values that far exceed those of the US If it does proceed, it would also capture polymer dispersions as
EPA for the same ingredient, which causes severe problems for microplastics would also be designated as toxic by CEPA, under
both product formulations as well as trade and commerce between Schedule 1 of the Act. If this amendment proceeds it could greatly
the largest trading partners on the globe. These issues prompted impact polymer dispersions now used in a wide range of product
CPCA to work with PMRA on the creation of a Coatings and Adhe- formulations. CPCA and many other industry associations, both in
sives Working Group for a more robust collaboration and a realistic Canada and the United States, have filed Notices of Objection of
framework for both PMRA and industry, one that is based on the Order proposing such an amendment.
science first and foremost. This work is critical for the paint indus-
18 CANADIAN FINISHING & COATINGS MANUFACTURING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021