Canada Adds 163 PFAS Substances

Effective Year: 2025

Reporting Deadline: June 2026

Regulatory Authority: Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)

ECCC has finalized the addition of 163 PFAS substances (131 individual chemicals and 32 PFAS salts) to the NPRI under a new Part 1, Group C category. Facilities must report if these substances are manufactured, processed, or used in quantities of 1 kg or more, with concentrations at or above 0.1% by weight.

Reporting Requirements

Facilities are required to report:

• Releases to air, water, and land
• Off-site disposal, treatment, recycling, and energy recovery activities involving listed PFAS

Stakeholder Feedback and ECCC Response

• Concerns raised:

o Administrative burden of tracking numerous low-concentration substances
o Need for harmonization with international PFAS definitions (e.g., OECD)
o Clarification on data collection and potential inclusion of fluoropolymers

• ECCC’s stance:

o Thresholds (≥1 kg, ≥0.1%) remain unchanged for consistency with SDS and international standards
o Creation of Group C highlights PFAS-specific regulatory focus
o Future updates may adjust substance lists or thresholds based on initial data

Industry Actions

Facilities should begin:

• Auditing PFAS presence across products and operations
• Monitoring releases and waste streams meeting reporting thresholds
• Consulting SDS and emission data for accurate tracking
• Preparing for evolving reporting requirements as PFAS regulation develops

Future Outlook

• First NPRI PFAS reports due by June 2026 (covering 2025 data)
• Data will inform future NPRI rule adjustments
• Potential expansion to include fluoropolymers and other emerging PFAS

Global Context

Canada’s NPRI expansion aligns with global pollutant transparency efforts, complementing:

• U.S. EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)
• EU’s European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR)

Reference: Canada ECCC NPRI PFAS Public Consultation Response