Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine September/October 2021 - 11

CPCA CORNER
BY PETER MIRTCHEV
Federal Agenda Seeks to Further Limit VOC
Emissions from Paint and Coatings Products
I
n April, the federal government issued an updated
discussion paper on its " Federal Agenda for Reduction of
VOC Emissions from Consumer and Commercial Products
(2021-2028) " . The paper identifies potential measures
to be pursued at the federal level toward achieving further VOC
reductions in key consumer and commercial sectors including
paint, coatings, adhesives, and sealants. Architectural coatings
and industrial adhesives/sealants were identified in the Agenda
as having the largest potential for further reductions with
automotive refinish coatings, aerosols, and plastic/rubber/
glass coatings implicated to a lesser degree. CPCA submitted
comprehensive comments addressing the proposed approach for
each of the sub-sectors.
Overall, the proposed Agenda failed to acknowledge the fact
that significant VOC reductions have been continuously achieved
by the Architectural sector (1.1 kt/year between 2015 and 2020) in
the absence of any additional unnecessary regulatory pressures.
These reductions are a direct result of producers' individual
efforts to supply low or zero-VOC products to consumers in
response to current market demand and consumer trends. CPCA
also reiterated yet again that California-based CARB rules are
not suitable for Canada's much colder climate and will lead to
freeze-thaw performance issues for multiple solvent-borne
product categories.
CPCA and its members have
cooperated with
federal
government initiatives and regulations to reduce VOC emissions
from paints and coatings products in Canada for over four
decades. Considerable VOC reductions have resulted from
this cooperation and both industry and government should
be commended. However, we believe that some of the main
directions and timelines expressed in the proposed agenda need
to be revised in accordance with the above recommendations
CPCA and its members have
cooperated with federal
government initiatives and
regulations to reduce VOC
emissions from paints and coatings
products in Canada for over four
decades.
based on the relevant, factual data and real industry concerns
expressed herein.
CPCA members fully support the government's intent
to harmonize Canadian regulations with some specific U.S.
regulations that are aligned and applicable in Canada, as long
as existing technologies and alternatives remain reasonably
available, accessible and cost-effective. Our members operate
on both sides of the border and would particularly benefit from
the Government of Canada aligning its future federal VOC
regulations or guidelines with those of the United States, while
also ensuring a level playing field for all in terms of the VOC limits
linked to those specific regulations and guidelines.
CPCA Advocates for Retaining the Consumer
Product Exclusion in the Hazardous Products Act
In June, CPCA was invited to participate in an intensive twoday
workshop organized by Health Canada (HC) on the issue of
the consumer product exclusion in the Hazardous Products Act
(HPA). The workshop was proposed by HC as a possible solution
after sustained opposition from industry to the public survey
released earlier this year, which was highly biased and contained
www.cfcm.ca
11
http://www.cfcm.ca
Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine September/October 2021

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