News Details

The Government of Canada has added more than 170 new substances to the Non-domestic Substances List (NDSL) through Order 2026-66-01-02, issued under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). The order was signed by Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin on March 24, 2026, and published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on April 4, 2026, and the amendment took effect on the day of publication. 

What the Order Does 

The new ministerial order amends Part I of the NDSL by adding 173 substances identified by their CAS numbers. These entries are incorporated in numerical order, as required under the CEPA framework. 

The additions span a wide range of compounds, from long-established entries dating back decades to newly catalogued substances with recently assigned identifiers. In total, the amendment introduces substances with CAS Registry Numbers ranging from 3654-78-2 to 3038306-89-4. 

Understanding the Non-Domestic Substances List 

The Non-domestic Substances List is a key regulatory tool under CEPA. It catalogues chemicals that are not manufactured or used in significant quantities within Canada, but which are recognized internationally, typically because they appear on the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory.  

Substances on the NDSL are subject to different notification requirements than those on the Domestic Substances List (DSL), giving Canadian regulators visibility into chemicals that may enter the country through imports or new industrial activity. 

By expanding the NDSL, the government strengthens its ability to monitor chemical substances that could potentially be introduced to Canadian markets in the future, ensuring that appropriate assessment and notification processes remain in place. 

Legal Basis for the Order 

The Minister of the Environment issued Order 2026-66-01-02 under subsection 66(2) of CEPA, 1999. This provision grants the Minister the authority to amend the Non-domestic Substances List when substances meet the criteria set out by the Act. The order aligns with Canada's broader chemicals management strategy, which emphasizes transparency, proactive risk identification, and alignment with trusted international regulatory systems. 

What This Means for Industry 

Companies that import or plan to import chemical substances into Canada should carefully review the updated Non-domestic Substances List. Substances newly added to the NDSL may affect notification obligations under the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers). In practical terms: 

• Importers may now find that certain previously unlisted substances are covered by NDSL provisions, which can influence reporting thresholds and timelines. 

• Manufacturers evaluating new product lines should verify whether their chemical inputs now appear on the updated list. 

• Regulatory and compliance teams are advised to cross-check CAS numbers against internal chemical inventories to assess any potential impact. 

Part of a Broader Chemicals Management Effort 

This amendment fits within Canada's ongoing Chemicals Management Plan (CMP), a long-running federal initiative designed to assess and manage chemical substances that may pose risks to human health or the environment. By keeping the NDSL current, the ECCC supports the government's broader commitment to science-based chemical oversight and ensures that Canadian regulations remain consistent with evolving global chemical inventories.