Issue
There are approval mechanisms in place for drinking water and wastewater plants and for Alberta transportation usage as well as across Canada. However, there is currently no existing mechanism for product approval for industry in Alberta for water or soil chemical usages that supports the best available technologies.
Background
Many of the products used today also pose a risk via the carrier/distribution means (e.g., surfactants, etc.). There are limited guidance and decision-making tools available to regulatory staff in accepting the best product (via the current system –MSDS/toxicity report, yet no range/thresholds). Although regulatory fines are starting to become more significant, enforcement capabilities are still limited, and toxic products and dated processes are still heavily used.
Many effective products cannot find their way to market easily because end users typically request approvals letters from the regulators before they change a product, regardless of cost.
Our Recommendations
1. Consult with stakeholders to develop consistent requirements for regulations within the environmental sector;
2. Ensure that regulations apply to any new products, processes, and technologies, as well as all existing products, processes, and technologies;
3. Ensure that toxicological studies have been performed on all products being used and are available on request (new and existing) in addition to the provision of MSDS sheets;
4. Ensure that regulations municipally, provincially, and federally are streamlined, consistently applied, and have a coordinated regulatory approval process; and,
5. Implement a product-review standard between the various regulators. If the product or technology meets the criteria, then it passes for all the regulators.
Topic
Year
2025
Contact
If you have any questions, contact Dana Severson at dseverson@abchamber.ca or (780) 425-4180 ext. 2.