Canadian Government to Restrict Gas Oils and Kerosene Substances in Consumer Products Due to Health Risks

The Canadian government has announced plans to restrict more than a dozen gas oil and kerosene substances in certain consumer products, citing potential risks to human health. The decision follows a provisional determination that 16 substances in the ‘gas oils and kerosenes with uses in products available to consumers’ (GOKUPAC) group meet the toxicity criteria under section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), according to a draft assessment published on May 4.

 Key Dates

- May 4, 2024: Start of 60-day public comment period on the draft assessment and risk management scope. Notice published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 158, No. 18.

- May 2025: Expected release of final assessment and proposed risk management approach.

Background Information

Initially, the 15 substances from the GOKUPAC group were part of a broader assessment involving 42 substances. Additional human health information led to the removal of these 15 substances from the original group. New ecological data also changed the proposed conclusion on environmental effects and determined that these substances are not harmful at the exposure levels considered in the assessment. The current draft assessment focuses on these 15 gas oils and kerosenes and one additional similar substance, CAS RN 64771-72-8.

 Public Comment Period

The public is invited to submit written comments within 60 days of the publication of the notice. Comments should address the proposed actions and the scientific basis for these actions. More scientific details can be found on the Canada.ca (Chemical Substances) website.

 By addressing these potential risks, the Canadian Government aims to improve consumer safety and protect public health from exposure to hazardous chemicals.