Draft VOC regulations now available
The text of Environment Canada’s draft VOC regulations for auto refinish coatings has been published in Canada Gazette Part I. The regulations affect many of the coatings and materials used in automotive refinish. Read the full text of the regulations
here.Background and Related Info
The Government of Canada filed a notice of intent in October 2006 to reduce emissions of air pollutants. The proposed regulations are intended to reduce VOC emissions from automotive refinish coatings; architectural and industrial maintenance coatings; and consumer products.The proposed regulations related to automotive refinish coatings have an implementation date of January 1, 2010. The regulations would prohibit the manufacture, import and sale of non-compliant coatings in Canada. Coating manufacturers, distributors, jobbers, and even refinish shops will be subject to the regulations.
Body shops will be allowed to use up any remaining non-compliant product provided it was purchased prior to the implementation date.
Coatings manufacturers are free to meet Environment Canada’s proposed VOC-emissions regulations with any formulation they choose, but the federal department has structured its proposal in such a way that the use of waterborne basecoats such as those mandated for Europe and California is the most obvious solution.
Environment Canada published draft regulations in Canada Gazette, Part I on April 26, 2008. A 60-day public comment period follows. After a 60 day review by government, the final text of the regulations can be published in Canada Gazette, Part II, at which time they become law.
To read the draft regulations, select one of the following formats:
HTML
PDF
Click here to read Environment Canada’s April 2008 fact sheet about the
VOC-emissions regulations
Click here to see how Canadian limits compare with the rest of the world
