Canada has committed to develop management measures to address per- & polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “Forever Chemicals,” a class consisting of over 16,000 substances, excluding fluoropolymers. The Government’s first step to address PFAS proposes to develop regulations prohibiting the manufacture, use, sale and import of PFAS, excluding fluoropolymers and PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, and LC-PFCAs) already regulated, used in firefighting foam. PFAS has been used in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) extensively over several decades to manage fires by the national defence on military lands for training, civilian and military airports, ships and even local fire fighting stations assisting in high hazard industries. PFAS in AFFF is released to the environment and often makes its way to water bodies (surface and groundwater) including the Great Lakes, which are important sources of drinking water for many communities. PFAS has been detected in the bodies of over 95% of Canadian people tested. CELA along with Health and Environment Justice Support, Northwatch and Citizens’ Network on Waste Management responded to the Canadian government’s proposal to prohibit PFAS in firefighting foam through regulation. Safer alternatives to AFFF such as fluorine-free foam are now available in the market but have yet to be adopted and used across the sectors. Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Canada has up to May 2027 to finalize its regulations on PFAS in fire fighting foam. Subsequent phases will be taken by the government to propose an approach to deal with PFAS in consumer products.
This publication is found on the Canadian Environmental Law Archive website; click here to open it in a new tab.
CELA with other NGOs support Canada’s proposals to use regulations prohibiting PFAS in firefighting foam
Canada has committed to develop management measures to address per- & polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “Forever Chemicals,” a class consisting of over 16,000 substances, excluding fluoropolymers. The Government’s first step to address PFAS proposes to develop regulations prohibiting the manufacture, use, sale and import of PFAS, excluding fluoropolymers and PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, and LC-PFCAs) already regulated, used in firefighting foam. PFAS has been used in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) extensively over several decades to manage fires by the national defence on military lands for training, civilian and military airports, ships and even local fire fighting stations assisting in high hazard industries. PFAS in AFFF is released to the environment and often makes its way to water bodies (surface and groundwater) including the Great Lakes, which are important sources of drinking water for many communities. PFAS has been detected in the bodies of over 95% of Canadian people tested. CELA along with Health and Environment Justice Support, Northwatch and Citizens’ Network on Waste Management responded to the Canadian government’s proposal to prohibit PFAS in firefighting foam through regulation. Safer alternatives to AFFF such as fluorine-free foam are now available in the market but have yet to be adopted and used across the sectors. Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Canada has up to May 2027 to finalize its regulations on PFAS in fire fighting foam. Subsequent phases will be taken by the government to propose an approach to deal with PFAS in consumer products.
This publication is found on the Canadian Environmental Law Archive website; click here to open it in a new tab.
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