Joint statement from Environmental health advocates on the federal government’s enforcement action on PFAS – Ecojustice

Toronto, Ont./ Traditional territories of several First Nations including the Williams Treaties First Nations, Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chippewas, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation — Environmental and health groups are pleased to see the government enforcing chemical reporting rules, and holding Estée Lauder to account for using unreported PFAS “forever chemicals” in its products. As other countries and states take quick regulatory action to phase out PFAS in products, Canada needs to catch up — or risk being left behind. We cannot allow Canada to become the dumping ground for PFAS products that are banned elsewhere. Without stricter rules, Canadian products will face challenges reaching markets in countries that have stronger environmental and health standards.

Canada can further protect us from PFAS and other toxics by:

• Moving quickly to finalize the listing of the class of PFAS under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and expediting regulations to get PFAS out of cosmetics, textiles and other target products;
• Renewing critical funding for the Chemicals Management Plan on a permanent basis;
• Ensuring that researchers and regulatory enforcement at Environment and Climate Change Canada have the resources needed to keep people in Canada and the environment safe.

Background:

• Estée Lauder Cosmetics Ltd. was fined $750,000 for failing to report their use of PFAS in their eyeliner, in violation of CEPA.
• Canada’s robust assessment of PFAS found that this group of “forever chemicals” meets the definition of “toxic” under CEPA, but the government has to finalize its proposal to add PFAS to the List of Toxic Substances to move ahead with regulation. Canada has a proposed regulatory approach on PFAS that has unnecessarily long and drawn-out regulatory timelines.
• France has expedited bans on PFAS in cosmetics, textiles, footwear and ski wax that came into force at the beginning of this year, and U.S. states, such as Minnesota, are also moving quickly to phase out PFAS from target products.
• The Chemicals Management Plan has been assessing and regulating chemicals in Canada since 2006, but its funding has not been renewed — despite its core function in defining federal duties and jurisdiction, as well as industry support for the program.
• The Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) enforcement branch, which delivered this enforcement decision, is one of several branches of the department targeted with cuts that are undermining our ability to protect human and environmental health from the harms of toxic chemicals and pollution.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

ABOUT ECOJUSTICE (ecojustice.ca): Ecojustice is Canada’s largest environmental law charity. Ecojustice uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change, and fight for a healthy environment. Its strategic, public interest lawsuits and advocacy lead to precedent-setting court decisions and laws and policies that deliver lasting solutions to Canada’s most urgent environmental problems.

ABOUT BREAST CANCER ACTION QUEBEC (BCAQ) (acsqc.ca): BCAQ is a feminist organization dedicated to breast cancer prevention and advocacy. BCAQ works to reduce the incidence of breast cancer by addressing environmental and occupational exposures to toxic substances, promoting primary prevention, and advancing health and environmental justice through research, public education, and policy advocacy.