Canada moves to label ‘forever chemicals’ as toxic, eyes stricter regulation

Ottawa says it's moving ahead with a plan to label so-called forever chemicals as toxic and expects to begin consultations in two years on further regulating their us.

The federal government says it’s moving ahead with a plan to label so-called forever chemicals as toxic and expects to begin consultations in two years on further regulating their use in cosmetics, food packaging and other consumer products.

The government released its final report Wednesday on the class of thousands of chemicals known as PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, as well as its proposal for how to manage their risks.

PFAS are often labelled “forever chemicals” because they virtually never break down. They turn up in anything from soil to human blood and have been linked to serious health risks.

The report concludes PFAS meet the criteria to be labelled as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

“It’s an unprecedented approach, since we’re regulating the entire class of PFAS, and not just one substance, one molecule at a time,” Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said at a news conference in Montreal.

However, it excludes fluoropolymers such as the brand name Teflon because the report suggests they may have a different risk profile than other forever chemicals – a move criticized by environmental groups and welcomed by the chemicals industry.

PFAS chemicals have been used since at least the mid-20th century for their resistance to heat, grease and water. They are found in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant furniture, waterproof jackets, firefighting foams, takeout containers, cosmetics and more.

Those chemicals have one of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry and they take a very long time to break down in the environment. Studies have linked them to significant health problems including cancers, hormone disruptions, immune system problems and liver disease.