PDF printable version of Australia recognises Canadian chemicals regulations (PDF 30 KB)
Joint Release
Senator the Hon Brett Mason
Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for Health and Ageing
Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Health
24 August 2007
BM038/07
Australia has recognised Canadian regulations governing the notification of new industrial chemicals, a step that will help to streamline assessment and approval procedures for these substances in Australia.
The move was announced by the Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Brett Mason, in a ceremony with the Canadian Minister of Health, Tony Clement, during the Canada-Australia Health Policy Dialogue in Sydney today.
Senator Mason and Minister Clement also signed a Statement of Intent to explore collaboration between Australia and Canada on the risk assessment and management of existing industrial chemicals on human health.
Recognition of Canada’s
New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers) means that Canadian assessments can be taken into account as an Approved Foreign Scheme when new chemicals are being evaluated under Australia’s National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS).
“The benefit of this arrangement is that, for a new chemical notified to NICNAS under the approved provisions, the hazard evaluation in the Canadian assessment report will be used in the NICNAS assessment report,” Senator Mason said.
“NICNAS will conduct the remaining parts of the assessment and make recommendations on safe use of the chemical in Australia. There is also a cost saving for those seeking the assessment, because Australia’s regulations provide for a fee discount where a report from a comparable OECD scheme applies,” Senator Mason said.
Minister Clement was pleased that Canada’s scientific expertise in chemicals assessments had been recognised and was optimistic that current cooperation on new chemical assessments would also extend to work on existing chemicals.
“Recognition of the Canadian regulations and the Statement of Intent show the importance of the Canada-Australia Co-operative Arrangement on new industrial chemicals, which was signed in 2002,” Minister Clement said.
“Canada and Australia face similar challenges on chemical safety issues, and there is much potential for mutually beneficial collaboration.
“These co-operative initiatives between Australia and Canada will enhance the regulatory efficiency of both countries’ new industrial chemicals appraisals, strengthen existing chemicals arrangements and, most importantly, improve health protection.”
Senator Mason said the bilateral Canada-Australia Policy Dialogue enabled Australia to stay at the forefront of international harmonisation.
“It is in keeping with the aims of both governments to provide the utmost in protection to human health and the environment,” he said.
Guidance on the arrangements for the introduction of new chemicals that have already been assessed by Canada will be posted to the NICNAS website,
www.nicnas.gov.au
Media contacts: For Senator Mason – Carolyn Martin 02 6277 3756
For Mr Clement – Ms Sharon Pinney 02 9364 3011, mobile 0414 183 975
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