Canada Amends Phosphorus Concentration Regulation in Certain Cleaning Products
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| Canada's Government amends the Phosphorus Concentration Regulation under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The ammendment broadens the scope of the Regulations to include other detergents and cleaners, and lowers the limits on permissible phosphorus concentrations. |
Since 1989 the Phosphorus Concentration Regulations included a maximum allowed limit of 2.2 % in laundry detergents. In June 2009, the regulations were amended to broaden the scope of the restriction on phosphorus in many other varieties of detergents and cleaners, both household use and industrial and commercial1. Phosphorus based compounds are common ingredients used in varieties of detergents and cleaners to soften the water, reduce spotting and rusting, keep dirt particles in suspension, and enhance surfactant performance. The release of phosphorus into the environment resulting from the use of detergents and cleaners is linked to the over-fertilization of freshwater ecosystems, including the growth of harmful algae blooms in Canada's lakes and rivers. The overfertilization of freshwater ecosystems and the proliferation of algae blooms have become matters of concern for human health and the environment.
The revised Phosphorus Concentration regulations come in to effect starting 1 July 2010, with restrictions extend to a broader variety of detergents and cleaners and the lower the limits on permissible phosphorus concentrations.
The rules prescribe the use of following methods for determining phosphorus concentration by a laboratory that is accredited under the International Organization for Standardization standard ISO/IEC 17025:2005 scheme, and whose accreditation scope includes the phosphorus testing methods.
• A Modified Procedure for the Determination of Phosphorus in Detergents, Department of the Environment Report EPS 4-WP-74-2; or
• Automated Method for the Determination of the Phosphorus Content of Detergents, Department of the Environment Report EPS 1-WP-76-1.
1 Regulations Amending the Phosphorus Concentration Regulations
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, SOR/89-501, amended by SOR/2009-178, the Phosphorus Concentration Regulation.
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