The Government of Canada Takes Action to Reduce VOC Emissions from the Architectural Coatings Sector
Gatineau, Que. -- September 30, 2009 -- The Minister of the Environment, Jim Prentice, today announced new regulations to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the architectural coatings sector through products such as paints, finishes, dyes, and varnishes. VOCs are pollutants that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and particulate matter, two key smog components.
“These new regulations targeting VOC emissions from products such as paints, stains and varnishes are one of a series of regulations aimed at reducing harmful VOC emissions from consumer and commercial products,” said Canada's Minister of Health, Leona Aglukkaq. “This new action will help protect the health of Canadians and help keep exposure to these emissions at low levels.” The regulations set maximum VOC concentration limits for 53 categories of coatings and will apply to all products made, imported, sold, or marketed in Canada. They also cover the use of traffic marking coatings.
The requirements, which are similar to requirements in the United States, were established pursuant to consultations with sector stakeholders. Annual VOC emission reductions from architectural coatings are expected to average 28%, which represents a cumulative reduction of approximately 506 000 tons over 25 years. Combined with other VOC initiatives, these measures will help reduce two of the main components of smog – ground-level ozone and particulate matter. This should prove to be beneficial to human health, agriculture, forestry, and ecosystems. In June 2003, the Government of Canada added VOCs to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, (1999) [CEPA (1999)]. This addition gave the government the authority to develop VOC control measures, such as these regulations, under CEPA (1999). This initiative to reduce VOC emissions from architectural coatings follows the recent adoption of the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Automotive Refinishing Products Regulations.
For more information on these regulations or other initiatives to reduce VOC emissions from consumer and commercial products, please visit www.ec.gc.ca/nopp/voc .
RBc: Be sure to visit our indoor air quality pages in particular this animation on "how your lungs work" illustrates why VOC reductions are so important.
Photo credit: Benjamin Moore Paints
