Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)
Bringing chemicals into the Canadian market can be complex. Before you manufacture or import, you must confirm whether your substances are already approved—or notify the government before they enter commerce.
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) is Canada’s primary law for assessing and managing chemical substances to protect human health and the environment. If your substances are not listed on the Domestic Substances List (DSL), you may be required to submit a New Substances Notification (NSN) before placing them on the market. Failure to comply can result in significant delays, enforcement action, and fines
Our Offerings
Inventory Screening (DSL/NDSL)
We determine if your substances are on the Domestic Substances List (DSL) or the Non-Domestic Substances List (NDSL), which directly impacts your notification requirements and data costs.
New Substances Notifications (NSN)
For substances not on the DSL, we prepare and submit full notification dossiers to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Health Canada, managing the process through review and approval.
Significant New Activity (SNAc) Monitoring
We help you navigate and comply with SNAc notices, which require notification if a substance is used in a way that differs from its original assessment. Stay compliant when substance uses, volumes, or exposure scenarios change. We help you interpret and respond to SNAc notices before new activities begin.
Section 71 Mandatory Surveys:
We manage responses to mandatory data-gathering notices (including PFAS-related surveys), ensuring accurate, complete, and timely submission
WHMIS 2015 & SDS Authoring
Preparation of compliant Safety Data Sheets and labels, including mandatory bilingual (English and French) requirements.
Yordas Helix for Canada
Regulatory intelligence to track updates under the Canadian Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) and anticipate future restrictions or bans
Deadlines
Notification is typically required 60 to 75 days before exceeding a 1,000 kg/year threshold, depending on whether the substance is on the NDSL.
Notification for polymers often trigger at 1,000 kg/year, with certain reduced-requirement exceptions.
Notification must occur before a significant new activity commences to avoid enforcement actions.
Our Process
We bridge complex Canadian legislation and real business needs. Unlike firms that focus only on legal interpretation, our Business through Science approach combines regulatory expertise with in-house toxicology and exposure assessment. This allows us to deliver robust, practical, and cost-effective compliance strategies—without unnecessary testing or delays
Portfolio Audit
Review your chemical inventory against the DSL and Revised In-Commerce List (R-ICL) to identify approval gaps.
Notification Strategy
Determine the appropriate NSN schedule based on substance type and annual tonnage, avoiding unnecessary data generation where possible.
Dossier Preparation
Our toxicologists and chemists compile the required technical data, including physical-chemical properties and toxicity studies, using in-house scientific expertise.
Submission & Liaison
We submit your notification through the appropriate government portals and manage all technical queries from ECCC and Health Canada during the review period.
Avoid Costly Penalties
Ensure you are not part of the growing list of companies fined (up to $750,000) for failing to submit required notifications.
Faster Market Entry
Clean notification strategies reduce review delays and prevent border seizures or last-minute disruptions
Better planning and resilience
Identify "Priority Substances" in your products early, explore safer alternatives and reduce the risk of future reformulation or withdrawl from the market.