Volatile Organic Compound Concentration Limits for Certain Products Regulations (SOR/2021-268)

Marginal note:Determination of VOC concentration

• 5 (1) For the purposes of these Regulations and subject to subsections (2) and (3), the VOC concentration of a product that belongs to a product category set out in column 1 of the table to Schedule 1 is determined by the formula

  [(W_S − W_EX) ÷ W_P] × 100

  where

  W_S

  is the weight in grams of all of the substances contained in the product that volatize when the product is tested to determine its VOC concentration for the purposes of these Regulations;

  W_EX

  is the weight in grams of all of the substances to be excluded when determining the VOC concentration, namely, any of the following substances contained in the product that volatize when the product is tested to determine its VOC concentration for the purposes of these Regulations:

  • (a) water, ammonia and any other inorganic substances;

  • (b) compounds that are excluded under item 65 of Schedule 1 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999;

  • (c) in the case of an antiperspirant or deodorant for the human axilla referred to in items 2 and 3, respectively, of the table to Schedule 1,

    • (i) VOCs that have a vapour pressure of less than or equal to 0.267 kPa when measured at 20°C or, if the vapour pressure is unknown, that contain more than 10 carbon atoms per molecule,

    • (ii) colourants and fragrances that, combined, constitute 2% or less of the product’s net weight, and

    • (iii) ethanol;

  • (d) in the case of a personal fragrance product referred to in item 11 of that table,

    • (i) low vapour pressure VOCs, and

    • (ii) fragrances;

  • (e) in the case of a pressurized gas duster referred to in item 53 of that table, low vapour pressure VOCs; and

  • (f) in the case of a product other than a product referred to in paragraph (c), (d) or (e),

    • (i) low vapour pressure VOCs, and

    • (ii) fragrances that, combined, constitute 2% or less of the product’s net weight; and

  W_P

  is the net weight of the product, expressed in grams.

• Marginal note:Aerosol products

  (2) For the purposes of the descriptions W_S and W_EX, if the product in question belongs to a subcategory set out in column 2 of the table to Schedule 1 that includes aerosol products, the propellant and non-propellant fractions are determined separately then added together to give the total value for each of those elements.

• Marginal note:Antiperspirants and deodorants

  (3) If the product in question is an antiperspirant or deodorant for the human axilla referred to in items 2 and 3, respectively, of the table to Schedule 1, the VOC concentration is determined separately for medium vapour pressure VOCs and high vapour pressure VOCs.