Here are a few noteworthy global EHS regulatory changes from February 2020. We cover EHS legislation and standards for over 90 countries and 200 jurisdictions. If you would like to track legislative changes for specific regions, countries or jurisdictions, we are happy to help. Please send us a request for more information here and we will contact you shortly.
Canada – Ontario
Amended document – Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Quantification, Reporting and Verification
Amending document – Amending O. Reg. 390/18 (Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Quantification, Reporting and Verification)
First effective date – 2020-02-11
Industry – general, building management and maintenance
A change to this document has been announced. The effect of the changes is to (1) add and modify various definitions relating to natural gas, biogas, and fuel gas, and replace what constitutes a “facility” for a definition more centered on greenhouse gas activities; (2) allow an accredited verification body to comply with ISO 14064-3: 2006 instead of ISO 14064-3: 2019, for any verification started before April 31, 2023; (3) remove the rule that a change in the choice of calculation methodology part of a standard quantification method should be approved by the Government; (4) modify the formula used to calculate a greenhouse gas emission for a greenhouse gas activity, and to calculate the verification amount of a covered facility; (5) clarify the duty to report for the owner or operator of a facility; (6) have certain requirements apply in respect of facilities instead of in respect of the owner or operator of a facility; (7) adapt various requirements in the event that Ontario be removed from the list of provinces to which the part of the federal Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act on industrial greenhouse gas emissions applies; (8) remove the possibility to revise a report within 7 years after the report has been given to the Government in certain circumstances; (9) modify the applicability of the obligation for accredited verification bodies to include the specified production parameter verification conclusion in the verification statement and report; (10) modify the minimum content of verification reports; (11) add circumstances where the Government can request the owner or operator of a facility to submit a revised report; (12) add base metal production as a specified greenhouse gas activity; (13) modify various specified greenhouse gas activities or their description; and (14) modify the information to include in reports. The first effective date of the document that makes the change is February 11, 2020. More information about the change, including any additional effective dates, is available here.
Canada – Saskatchewan
Amended document – The Crown Resource Land Regulations, 2019
Amending document – The Crown Resource Land (Fees) Amendment Regulations, 2020
First effective date – 2020-02-07
Industry – general
A change to this document has been announced. According to the Government of Saskatchewan, the effect of the changes is notably to (1) “harmonize oil and gas fees with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport rates”; and (2) “adjust fees for mineral surface (mine site) dispositions to hold rates at the 2020-21 level, introduce a reduced fee for mine sites in a state of suspended production, and set fees for peat activities”. The first effective date of the document that makes the change is February 7, 2020. More information about the change, including any additional effective dates, is available here and here.
US – Federal
Amended document – 50 CFR 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants
Amending document – Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Black Pinesnake
First effective date – 2020-03-27
Industry – general, office spaces, building management and maintenance
A change to this document has been announced. The effect of the change is to provide measures to protect the Louisiana pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni), a reptile listed as threatened, which is from Louisiana and Texas. The first effective date of the document that makes the change is March 30, 2020. More information about the change, including any additional effective dates, is available here.
US – New York
New Principal document – NYCL Title ENV-37-9 Toxic Chemicals In Children’s Products
First effective date – 2020-03-01
Industry – chemical
This legislation notably requires a manufacturer selling or distributing children’s products that contain a dangerous chemical or chemical of concern to report chemical use to the Department of Environmental Conservation. It also includes prohibitions regarding distributing, selling or offering for sale children’s products that contain certain chemicals.
European Union
First effective date – 2020-02-27
Industry – hardware manufacturing
This legislation sets out the procedure and conditions for vehicles manufacturers to apply for a CO2 savings certification from the use of a specific technology.
Amended document – 1272/2008 (EC) – Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures
Amending document – Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/217 of 4 October 2019 amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures and correcting that Regulation (Text with EEA relevance)
First effective date – 2019-12-01
Industry – general, building management and maintenance
A change to this document has been announced. The effect of the change is to modify requirements for additional hazard statements to be included on the label of certain mixtures, notably for mixtures containing titanium dioxide. The first effective date of the document that makes the change is December 1, 2019. More information about the change, including any additional effective dates, is available here.
Ireland
Amended document – Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007
Amending document – Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
First effective date – 2020-04-01
Industry – general, office spaces, building management and maintenance
A change to this document has been announced. According to the Government of Ireland, the effects of the change is to “amend certain provisions in Chapter 2 Use of Work Equipment of Part 2 Workplace and Work Equipment of the General Application Regulations in order to facilitate the full transposition of the provisions of Directive 2009/104/EC.” The first effective date of the document that makes the change is April 1, 2020. More information about the change, including any additional effective dates, is available here.
Mexico
Amended document – National Waters Law
Amending document – Decree whereby the first paragraph of article 120 is amended and a fraction VI Bis is added to article 88 Bis of the National Water Law
First effective date – 2020-01-07
Industry – general, building management and maintenance
A change to this document has been announced. The effect of the change is to require operators who discharge wastewater to include in their processes the use of biodegradable materials, and to modify the sanctions issued by the Water Authority. The first effective date of the document that makes the change is January 7, 2020. More information about the change, including any additional effective dates, is available here.
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