Canada intends to approach PFAS as single class

The Government of Canada evaluated the risks of PFOS, PFOA, and LC-PFCAs, and published the findings in screening assessment reports in 2006 and 2012. The PFOS, PFOA, and LC-PFCAs (and their salts and precursors) are prohibited through regulations in Canada; however, scientific evidence to date indicates the PFAS used to replace regulated PFOS, PFOA, and LC-PFCAs may also be associated with environmental and/or human health effects. These substances are predominately known for their composition of carbon-fluorine bonds. This kind of bond is so strong that it makes it difficult to degrade naturally. The Government of Canada has been conducting regular monitoring and surveillance of certain PFAS in terms of exposures from sources, including air, dust, water, products, and food.

The PFAS called the Per and Polyfluorinated substances are a large group of over 5000 human-made substances that have been used in firefighting foams, surfactants, cosmetic non-stick cookware, food packaging and stain-repellent fabrics, textiles, cosmetics and in other numerous areas. These substances are also referred as Forever chemicals because they remain for a longer time in the environment. Therefore, there are growing concerns about how they accumulate in both human and wildlife tissues. 

Adverse environmental and health effects have been observed for well-studied PFAS. Therefore, the Government of Canada intends to approach PFAS as a Single Class. A notice of intent to address the broad class of PFAS was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 155 No. 17 – April 24, 2021. 

With this background, the Canadian Government will continue to collect and examine information on PFSA to inform class-based approach and review policy development in other jurisdictions. They will publish various Reports which will contain information on PFAS Classification.  The input will be welcomed from the various stakeholders and interested parties. stakeholders are invited to provide initial feedback on the intent to address PFAS as a class, including challenges or opportunities they foresee or indicate their interest in being engaged in future discussions by emailing eccc.substances.eccc@canada.ca.