Reducing Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions

New VOC regulations

After the oil and gas sector, consumer and commercial products are the largest sources of VOC emissions in Canada. To further reduce emissions from these products, the Government of Canada intends to renew the Federal agenda on the reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds from consumer and commercial products.

 Its action plan will take place between 2022 and 2030 (see Figure 1).

How?

•  The coming into force in January 2023 of the Volatile Organic Compound Concentration Limits  for Certain Products Regulations, which applies to more than 100 categories and subcategories of consumer products.
• Amendments of two existing regulations: the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Architectural Coatings Regulations and the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Automotive Refinishing Products Regulations.
• Monitoring the implementation of the 2021 National Standard of Canada entitled Control of evaporative emissions from portable fuel containers. If the Government finds widespread non-compliance, it could transpose the National Standard into law.
• Development of regulations for industrial and commercial adhesives and sealants.
• Analysis and consultations with the plastic packaging printing industry to develop a non-regulatory risk management instrument for this industry.
• Additional information gathering for the following sectors:

                - pesticides,
                - solvent degreasing,
                - cars, vans, light trucks assembly and auto parts coatings, and
                - plastic, rubber, leather and glass coating

To read the full text in Gazette I

Follow our next blog on December 13 for all the details on the VOC Concentration Limits for Certain Products Regulation which will come into force in January 2023.

If you need help calculating and identifying the VOCs of your products, do not hesitate to contact the Kalium team at 450 906-6999.