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May 6, 2008|
Federal minister of the environment John Baird has announced draft regulations aimed at reducing VOC emissions from automotive refinish (ARC) and architectural and industrial maintenance (AIM) coatings. The proposed regulations, published April 26 in Canada Gazette Part 1, seek to reduce VOC emissions by a further 30 per cent from 2005 levels in 49 categories of architectural coatings, and by 40 per cent from 2005 levels in 14 categories of automotive refinish coatings.
The proposed legislation, which was developed in consultation with the Canadian paint and coatings industry and other stakeholders over the last two years, includes an exemption for containers with volumes of one litre or less, and a two-year sell-through period for non-compliant products manufactured prior to prohibitions taking effect. A decision to exempt tertiary butyl acetate (TBAc), a substance that was excluded as a VOC by the US EPA in November 2004 and several US states thereafter, has been postponed until Environment Canada completes an evaluation of the contribution of TBAc to ground-level ozone. The review is expected to be complete before the finalization of the proposed regulations.
"While the industry has done a good job creating and introducing products that are more environment and consumer friendly, we will be significantly challenged to meet the new VOC standards set by government," says Brian Edwards, Chairman of the board of Directors for the Canadian Paint and Coatings Association. "These new regulations will put Canada among the most stringent jurisdictions in the world with respect to VOC emission controls."
www.ec.gc.ca
www.cdnpaint.org
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