Canada - United States Regulatory Cooperation Council 2018 Stakeholder Forum 加拿大联合州

Canada-UnitedStatesRegulatoryCooperationCouncil2018StakeholderForum

ExecutiveSummary

TheCanada-UnitedStatesRegulatoryCooperationCouncil(RCC)2018StakeholderForumwasheldDecember4–5,2018,inWashington,D.C.Itwasasuccessful1.5-dayeventthatbroughttogetherapproximately300stakeholdersandregulators.Theeventconsistedofaplenarysessionandfoursetsofbreakoutsessions.

Canada’sAmbassadortotheUnitedStates,DavidMacNaughton,gaveintroductoryremarksfollowedbykeynoteaddressesbyMickMulvaney,DirectoroftheU.S.OfficeofManagementandBudget,andScottBrison,PresidentoftheTreasuryBoardofCanada.KeythemesoftheopeningspeechesincludedtheimportanceoftheCanada-UnitedStatesrelationshipandtheroleofregulatorycooperationinreducingregulatoryburdentostimulatetheeconomywhilestillmaintaininghighstandardsandprotectionsforhealth,safety,andtheenvironment.

ThekeynoteaddresseswerefollowedbyanindustrypaneltodiscussRCCsuccesses—past,present,andfuture.PanelistshighlightedsuccessesoftheRCC,suchastheSunscreenPilot,standardsforanewclassofrailtankcarforflammableliquids,motorvehiclesafety,andchemicalsmanagement.ItwasnotedthatakeyachievementoftheRCCisthatittranscendsadministrations.

Asregulatorsandstakeholdersbeganthefirstsetofbreakoutsessions,theRCCCouncilheldacouncilmeeting.TheCouncilwasco-chairedbyPeterWallace,SecretaryoftheTreasuryBoardofCanada,andNeomiRao,AdministratoroftheU.S.OfficeofInformationandRegulatoryAffairs.TheywerejoinedbyMichaelKeenan,DeputyMinisterofTransportCanada,andAndrewWheeler,ActingAdministratoroftheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency.

Twelvebreakoutsessionswereheldonthefollowingtopics:medicaldevices;alternativefueluseintransportation;aviationandunmannedaircraftsystems;cropprotection;vehiclesafetyandconnectedvehicles;consumerproductsafety;railsafety;chemicalsmanagementandworkplacechemicals;smallmodularreactors;transportationofdangerousgoods;animalhealth,veterinarydrugs,andmeatinspection;andbordertradedatasystems.Allsessionsbeganwithanoverviewbyregulatorsonregulatorycooperationactivitiesandworkplans,followedbyquestionsandanswers.

Throughouttheevent,stakeholdersexpressedbroadsupportfortheRCCand,inmanycases,applaudedeffortsbyregulatorstoworktogetherandreduceunnecessaryduplicationinourregulatorysystems.Regulatorycooperationforemergingtechnologieswasalsoathemestakeholdersraisedacrosssubjectareas,whichmanyregulatorsarealreadydiscussingbilaterally.Otherkeythemesraisedbystakeholdersincludedtheuseofinternationalstandards,theincreaseduseofelectronictoolsforregulatoryrequirements,andincreasedwork-sharingandmutualrecognitionwherepossible.

Regulatorsandstakeholdersre-convenedforendofdayremarksandadebriefoftheCouncilmeetingbySecretaryWallaceandDominicMancini,DeputyAdministratoroftheU.S.OfficeofInformationandRegulatoryAffairs.

Overview

TheCanada-UnitedStatesRegulatoryCooperationCouncil(RCC)2018StakeholderForumwasheldDecember4–5,2018,attheWalterE.WashingtonConventionCenterinWashington,D.C.Itwasasuccessful1.5-dayeventthatbroughttogetherapproximately300stakeholdersandregulators.

Canada’sAmbassadortotheUnitedStates,DavidMacNaughton,gaveintroductoryremarksfollowedbykeynoteaddressesbyMickMulvaney,DirectoroftheU.S.OfficeofManagementandBudget,andScottBrison,PresidentoftheTreasuryBoardofCanada.KeythemesoftheopeningspeechesincludedtheimportanceoftheCanada-UnitedStatesrelationshipandtheroleofregulatorycooperationinreducingregulatoryburdentostimulatetheeconomywhilestillmaintaininghighstandardsandprotectionsforhealth,safety,andtheenvironment.

ThekeynoteaddresseswerefollowedbyanindustrypaneltodiscussRCCsuccesses—past,present,andfuture.ThepanelwasmoderatedbySusanDudley,DirectoroftheGeorgeWashingtonUniversityRegulatoryStudiesCenter.Thepanelistswere:MichaelFitzpatrick

(HeadofRegulatoryAdvocacy,GeneralElectricGlobalLawandPolicy),

MarkNantais(President,CanadianVehicleManufacturers’Association),

KristinWillemsen,(Director,ScientificandRegulatoryAffairs,ConsumerHealthProductsCanada),andMichaelWalls(VicePresidentofRegulatoryandTechnicalAffairs,AmericanChemistryCouncil).PanelistshighlightedsuccessesoftheRCC,suchastheSunscreenPilot,standardsforanewclassofrailtankcarforflammableliquids,motorvehiclesafety,andchemicalsmanagement.ItwasnotedthatakeysuccessoftheRCCisthatittranscendsadministrations.Onepanelistalsonotedthatinsomesectors,thebiggestbarriertotradeisregulatorymisalignment.Foremergingtechnologies,suchasunmannedaircraftsystems,automatedandconnectedvehicles,andartificialintelligence,panelistscautionedgovernmentsnottoregulatetooearly,butrathertowatchindustrydevelopmentscloselyandworktoregulateonanas-neededbasis.Thepanelistsalsosharedadviceandlessonslearned:bepersistent,backupgoodideaswithevidence,andhavemanageableworkplans.Theyalsonotedtheimportanceofgovernmentresponsestoindustryproposals,eveniftheresponsesarenegative.

Asregulatorsandstakeholdersbeganthefirstsetofbreakoutsessions,theRCCCouncilheldacouncilmeeting.TheCouncilwasco-chairedbyPeterWallace,SecretaryoftheTreasuryBoardofCanadaSecretariat,andNeomiRao,AdministratoroftheU.S.OfficeofInformationandRegulatoryAffairs.SecretaryWallaceandAdministratorRaoalsoinvitedcolleaguesMichaelKeenan,DeputyMinisterofTransportCanada,andAndrewWheeler,ActingAdministratoroftheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,tojointhemintheCouncil.

Regulatorsandstakeholdersre-convenedattheendofthedayforadebriefofthecouncilmeetingbySecretaryWallaceandDominicMancini,DeputyAdministratoroftheU.S.OfficeofInformationandRegulatoryAffairs.TheCouncildiscussionincludedkeypointsofinterest:

Emergingtechnology,specificallyconnectedvehicles;

Cybersecurityprotocolsandthecollectionofinformationanddata,whichareimportanttounderstandasNorthAmericamovesintotheexpandeduseofconnectedandautomatedvehicles;and,

Leveragingpaperworkreductiontodevelopmoreefficientwaystocollectelectronicinformation.

TheCouncilwasinterestedinhearingaboutthediscussionsinthebreakoutsessions,aswellasideasforfutureareasofcooperation.ThesecommentscouldalsobesubmittedtotheRequestforInformationthatthattheU.S.OfficeofInformationandRegulatoryAffairshadrecentlypublished.

Twelvebreakoutsessionswereheldoverthedayandahalf.Allsessionsbeganwithanoverviewbyregulatorsonregulatorycooperationactivitiesandworkplans,followedbyaquestionandanswerperiod.Throughouttheevent,stakeholdersexpressedbroadsupportfortheRCCand,inmanycases,applaudedeffortsbyregulatorstoworktogetherandreduceunnecessaryduplicationinourregulatorysystems.Regulatorycooperationforemergingtechnologieswasalsoathemestakeholdersraisedacrosssubjectareas,whichmanyregulatorsarealreadydiscussingbilaterally.Otherkeythemesraisedbystakeholdersincluded:useofinternationalstandards,increaseduseofelectronictoolsforregulatoryrequirements,andincreasedwork-sharingandmutualrecognitionwherepossible.

Thetopicsofthebreakoutsessionswere:

Medicaldevices

;

Alternativefueluseintransportation

;

Aviationandunmannedaircraftsystems

;

Cropprotection

;

Vehiclesafetyandconnectedvehicles

;

Consumerproductsafety

;

Railsafety

;

Chemicalsmanagementandworkplacechemicals

;

Smallmodularreactors

;

Transportationofdangerousgoods

;

Animalhealth,veterinarydrugs,andmeatinspection

;and

Bordertradedatasystems

.

Forasummaryofaspecificbreakoutsession,clickonthelinksabove.

MedicalDevices

TheU.S.FoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)andHealthCanadaareworkingtogetheronpre-andpost-marketregulatoryconvergencetopics,includinginparticular,throughtheInternationalMedicalDevicesRegulatorsForum(IMDRF).TheIMDRFaimstoaccelerateinternationalmedicaldeviceregulatoryharmonizationandconvergenceforregulatorsandstakeholdersworldwide.PastandpresentworkitemsincludeMedicalDeviceSingleAuditProgram(MDSAP),TableofContentsformat,cybersecurity(FDAandHealthCanadatoco-chair),andthedevelopmentofaMedicalDeviceSingleReviewProgram(MDSRP).AsofJanuary2019,MDSAPismandatoryinCanada.HealthCanadaandtheFDAexpressedthatpre-marketburdencouldbereducedforbothregulatorsandindustrythroughtheMDSRP,allowingforaccesstomultiplejurisdictionsfollowingasinglereview.FDAandHealthCanadaalsoreportedontheircollaborationondigitalhealthtoalignregulatoryrequirements.HealthCanadaisdevelopingguidancedocumentson3Dprinting,cybersecurity,andsoftwareasamedicaldevice.

StakeholdersexpressedsupportforcontinuingtheregulatorycooperationbetweenFDAandHealthCanadaonmedicaldevices.StakeholdersinquiredabouthowbesttoinvolveothercountriesandhowtheRCCinterplayswiththeIMDRF.FDAandHealthCanadaexplainedthattherelationshipbetweentheRCCandtheIMDRFflowsbothways,withtheRCCprovidingavenuetopilotprojectsfromtheIMDRF.

Stakeholdersexpressedinterestincollaborationbetweenthetworegulatorsonnovelapproachesandemergingtechnologies(e.g.,point-of-caremedicaldevices)andwhetheropportunitiesforwork-sharingormutualrecognitionexist.Theroleofstandardswasalsoraised,aswasthepossibilityofalignmentwithFDA’sstandardsprogram.

Stakeholdersalsoexpressedconcernaboutthereviewofmedicaldevices,whichhasbeeninthemediarecentlyinCanada.HealthCanadanotedthattheMinisterofHealthsetoutapathforward,andthatitwillnotaffecttheRCC’swork.

AlternativeFuelUseinTransportation

TheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy(DOE)andNaturalResourcesCanada(NRCan)eachspokeabouteffortstodate,andpossibilitieslookingforward.Theyhighlightedthatthisinitiativebuildsonthemorethan20yearsofcollaborationbetweenthetwodepartmentsonalternativefueluseintransportation.

ThefocusofthisRCCinitiativeistoaligncodesandstandardsforalternativefueledvehiclesandrefuelinginfrastructure.TheseeffortsensurethatconsumersandfleetswhochoosetooperatealternativefueledvehiclescanbeconfidentthatthetechnologiesaresimilarregardlessofwhichgeographicalregiontheytravelthroughouttheUnitedStatesandCanada,contributingtoenergysecurity,reducingfuelcosts,andreducingemissions.TheseeffortsalsoensurebusinessescandesignproductstoonesetofspecificationsforboththeU.S.andCanadianmarkets,therebyreducingcostsandcontributingtotheircompetitiveness.

Thescopeoftheinitiativeoriginallyonlyincludednaturalgasuseinon-roadtransportation,however,in2016thisscopewasbroadenedtoincludeallalternativefuels(e.g.,electricvehicles,hydrogen,naturalgas,andpropane),aswellasemerginguseslikemarineandrailapplications.

ItisimportanttonotethatneitherDOEnorNRCanaretheregulatorswhenitcomestoalternativefueluseintransportation.Thisisregulatedatthestate,provincial,orterritoriallevel.

StakeholdersexpressedinterestinaddingotherfuelsintofutureRCCworkplansandnotedthatmisalignmentbetweenfederal,state,orprovincialregulationsisimpedinginnovationinahighlyevolvingsectorofthetransportationindustry.Specifictopicsraisedbystakeholdersincludedbringingdownthecostofhydrogenfuelcellsandpropane.Stakeholdersindicatedthatgovernmentsshouldbetteralignregulatoryeffortstoempowerinnovationandeconomicgrowth.DOEandNRCancontinuetoworkonthisInitiative,aswellasidentifyingandprioritizingthenextareasoffocus.

AviationandUnmannedAircraftSystems

TheU.S.DepartmentofTransportation’s(DOT)FederalAviationAdministration(FAA)andTransportCanada(TC)theneachspokebrieflytotheirongoingcollaborationandpositiveworkingrelationshipsintheareaofaviationsafetyandunmannedaerialvehicles.Followingtheseremarksstakeholdershadtheopportunitytoprovidecommentsandaskquestionsoftheregulators.

StakeholdersaskedabouttheextentofCanada’sengagementintheFAAIntegrationPilotProgram(IPP).TCindicatedthattheyhavevisitedtheUnitedStatestolearnabouttheprogramfromtheFAAandarekeentogathermoreinformation.

Stakeholdersexpressedinterestaroundairspacemanagement—specificallyaroundthepotentialchallengeofaligningrulesbecauseofdifferencesinairtrafficmanagementbetweentheUnitedStatesandCanada.BothTCandtheFAAindicatedthattheydonotanticipatethisbeingaproblem.

Similarly,stakeholdersaskedaboutpotentialdifficultiesoftheUnitedStatesandCanadaaligningtheirfinalrules,giventheirtwoverydifferentgeographies.TCacknowledgedthattelecommunicationsforcommandandcontrolcouldbeachallenge,especiallyinthenorthwheretheremaybeinfrastructurelimitations.However,thiswouldnotnecessarilychangehowweregulate.

StakeholdersraisedtheimportanceofreciprocityfordronelicencingacrosstheUnitedStatesandCanada.TCindicatedthatreciprocityisessential,especiallyforlargerdronesandforoperationsbeyondvisuallineofsight.Commoncertificationstandardswouldbehelpful,butthisthenraisesquestionsaroundassessingcertificationandproducttesting.

Stakeholdersraisedtheimportanceofcommunicatingsafetymessagingtostakeholders.TCindicatedthattheyhaveauser-friendlywebsitetoanswerthesequestions.DOTnotedthatanumberofstakeholdershaveaskedtheagencytorampupcommunicationsandoutreachonsafetymessaging,similartoothercountriesthathaveinnovativeoutreachmethods(e.g.,theUnitedKingdomandCanada).TCnotedthatthereisagreatdiversityofstakeholdersextendingbeyondentitiesinterestedincommercialandrecreationaluse.Thereisaneedformoreappsanddigitaltoolsforusers,aswellasaneedtoworkwithmanufacturersandretailersonsafetymessaging.

CropProtection

TheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency’s(EPA)OfficeofPesticidePrograms(OPP)andHealthCanada’sPestManagementRegulatoryAgency(PMRA)providedanupdateontheirpesticideprogramcollaborationsthatfallundertheRCC.Thetwoagencieshavealonghistoryofcooperationandpartnershipandcontinuetoworkcloselyonmanyissues.Theagencieshighlightedtheirworkonneonicotinoidpesticides,particularlyintheareaofriskassessment.Onthistopic,bothcountriesreviewthescienceinsimilarways.However,theynotedtheyarenotonthesametimelineforreviewingsubmissions.EPAandPMRAarecontinuingtotakeacloselookattheirre-evaluationprocessesandareworkingwithcounterpartsattheOrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment(OECD).Fornewactiveingredients,ithasbecomeroutineforindustrytosubmittoboththeUnitedStatesandCanadaconcurrently,whichhasledtoincreasedefficienciesforindustryandgovernments.Theagenciesarealsocontinuingtoworkondevelopingnewintegratedapproachestotestingandassessment.Withrespecttoaligningresiduetrialrequirements,EPAandPMRAharmonizedtrialrequirementsin2017and2018.Residuetrialrequirementsdeterminewhatlevelsofchemicalscanremainonproductsandareamajoraspectoftheapprovalprocess.EPAandPMRAalsorecentlyworkedonthedevelopmentofjointinformationtechnologysolutionsandcontinuetolookatwaystomoreefficientlyshareinformationbetweenregulators.

EPAandPMRAexpressedinterestinhearingfromstakeholdersaboutwhattheirprioritiesfortheRCCshouldbegoingforward.Theyheardandunderstoodtheimportanceofjointreviews,andhavecommittedtocontinuingwiththeircollaborativework.Theyalsonotedthatmaximumresiduelimits(MRLs)forjointreviewsarerelativelyaligned.Theyhavealsoheardfromstakeholdersthattheywouldliketoseemorealignmentonbiocides.

StakeholdershadanumberofsuggestionsforcontinuingU.S.-Canadacooperationonpesticides.Theyexpressedacleardesireforalignedtimelinesandoutcomes.EPAandPMRAindicatedthattheirlegislativeframeworksrequiredifferentassessments,whichcanleadtodifferentoutcomes.Regulatorsalsonotedthatduringthepubliccommentprocessdifferentinformationisprovidedtoeachcountry,whichcanleadtodifferenttimelineseveniftheriskassessmentswerepostedforpubliccommentatthesametime.

OnestakeholdersuggestedthatCanadamirrortheEPA’sbio-pesticidesprogram,whichprovidesbio-pesticideswithashorterandlesscostlypathtoregistration.Anothernotedthattheywouldliketoseefurthercooperationintheareaofbiocides,inparticularjointreviewsandforCanadatoacceptthereviewsoftheUnitedStates.RelianceontheAsia-PacificEconomicCooperationprocessandMRLapproachwasalsoraisedbystakeholders.

Stakeholdersalsoraisedemergingtechnology(e.g.,drones).EPAandPMRAnotedthattheyhavebeendiscussingthiswitheachotherandindustry.

VehicleSafetyandConnectedVehicles

TheU.S.DepartmentofTransportation(DOT)andTransportCanada(TC)providedbriefstatusupdatesontheRCCworkplanforconnectedvehicles(CVs)andmotorvehiclesafetythatwerepresentedatboththe2016and2014RCCstakeholdermeetings.Thepartiesreinforcedtheircloseworkingrelationshipsandtheintenttocontinueworkingonthemes,includingcybersecurity,spectrumanalysis,infrastructure,regulatorydevelopment,jointresearchtesting,newregulations,andexistingregulation.WithrespecttoCVs,bothpartieshighlightedtheneedtoaligncodesandstandardsregardingtransportationarchitectureinordertoensureconnectedvehiclescanbedeployedandbeinteroperableinbothcountries.Regardingmotorvehiclesafety,sideimpactprotection,ejectionmitigation,andelectronicstabilitycontrolfortransporttrucksandbuseswerehighpriorityareaswhereCanadaalignedwiththeUnitedStates.

StakeholdersaskedwhetherDOTandTCcouldpoolandreleasedata,indicatingthattherecouldbeveryrealbenefitstosharinginformationinthisway.TCindicatedthatthereisagreatdealofcollaborationonsafetywithrespecttohydrogenandelectricvehicles.Atthesametime,TCisintheprocessoftakingafreshlookathowtheypostresearch.

Stakeholdersalsoraisedconcernsabouttheconditionoftruckswhentheyareusedinplatooning,especiallywithrespecttotheirbrakes.

Stakeholdersaskedaboutalignmentofrequirementsforrearimpactguardsontrucktrailers.StakeholdersindicatedthatafewyearsagotheUnitedStateswaslookingtoinstitutearequirementforthese,butitwouldnothavealignedwithrulesinCanada.

Withrespecttothesafetyofautomatedvehicles(AVs),stakeholdersinquiredaboutthedecision-makingprocesswhenprogrammingAVs.ThesuggestionwasmadetoimplementlegislationtoprotectcompaniesfromliabilityincaseofinjuryfromanAV.TCindicatedthattheyhavedevelopedsafetyassessmentguidelinesthatwillsoonbereleased.

StakeholdersalsosuggestedthatalthoughAVsandCVsaredevelopinginparallel,theyarestillseparatetechnologiesthatshouldbeaddressedinseparateRCCworkplans.

StakeholdersaskedaboutthestatusofCanadianrequirementsforautomaticheadlightsinautomobiles.TCindicatedthatthisisnotaregulatoryrequirement,butoneallowablemethodofcomplyingwithrecentlyupdatedlightingrequirements(CMVSS108)thatseektomitigatetheoccurrenceofvehiclestravellingatnightorinlowambientlightconditionswithouttheirfullrunninglightsoperating.StakeholdersalsoadvocatedforgreatercollaborationandsynchronizationbetweenDOT’sNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration(NHTSA)andTConlightingissues.NHTSAappearstobeconsideringupdatingitslightingregulation(FMVSS108)toallowcertainadvancedlightingtechnologiesthatTChasallowedwhenCMVSS108wasupdated.

ConsumerProductSafety

HealthCanadahighlightedthatdespitetheabsenceofaRCCworkplanonconsumerproductsafety,itworkscloselywiththeU.S.ConsumerProductSafetyCommission(CPSC)tomonitorriskanddiscussapproachestoanumberofareasofconsumerproducts,includingemergingareasintheglobalonlinemarketplace.

HealthCanadaoutlinedthepointsintheprocesswhereHealthCanadaandtheCPSCcooperate,includingintheareasofinformationsharing;surveillanceandtriageofproducts;riskassessments;andlaboratorywork.Since2009,theUnitedStatesandCanadahavejointlyissued600productrecalls,whichdemonstratesthelevelofengagementandcooperationthatisongoing.

TheCPSCwasunabletoattendthebreakoutsessionduetotheNationalDayofMourning.

Giventhebreadthoftopicscapturedundertheconsumerproductsafetytheme,therewereanumberofdisparatequestionsfromstakeholders.TherewasparticularinterestintheInternetofThingsandthewaysthat“smart”productscanbeintegratedintothemarketplacesafely.Therewerequestionsaboutinternationalstandards,thenumberofconsumerproductsafetyincidentsinvolvingtheseproducts,andhowtheUnitedStatesandCanadacancollaboratemoreintheglobalspacetosharelessonslearnedandbestpractices.Stakeholdersalsoraisedtheimportanceofuniqueidentifiersintheglobalmarket,especiallyinrelationtorecallsandensuringthatrecallscapturetherightproductsinasmanymarketsaspossible.Stakeholdersalsoraisedanumberofquestionsregardingtheapproachestoproductsaffectingthehealthandsafetyofchildren(e.g.,windowcoverings,children’spyjamas,andcarseats)andhowtheapproachesintheUnitedStatesandCanadadifferdespiteregulatorycooperationinotherspheres.

RailSafety

TheU.S.DepartmentofTransportation’sFederalRailwayAdministration(FRA)andTransportCanada(TC)reinforcedthatthecollaborationbetweenthemisongoingandpositive.FRAnotedthatthereispotentialforamendmentstoU.S.brakesystemstandardstoalignwithCanada.TCspoketotheimportanceofin-cabrecordingsforsafety,butalsoforaccidentreconstruction.DraftregulationstothiseffectarebeingdevelopedinCanadaforsummer2019,withfinalregulationsexpectedinspring2020.Forfatiguemanagement,TCpublishedaNoticeofIntentinNovember2017andintendstomakechangestotheregulatoryframeworkwithrespecttotimeawayandresttimesforrailoperators.

Stakeholdersinquiredaboutthestatusofdialoguesonemergingtechnologies(e.g.,hyperloop).FRAandTCacknowledgedthatdiscussionsonnewtechnologiesareongoing.Stakeholdersalsoaskedaboutpossiblealignmentonpositivetraincontrol,sothatU.S.andCanadianrequirementsareinter-operable.FRAandTCstatedthatthereareongoingdialoguesonpositivetraincontrols,withCanadaslightlybehindtheUnitedStates.Athirdareaofinterestwasthepotentialforcooperationintheareaofintermodaltransport.Althoughintermodaltransporthasnotbeenafocusofcooperationtodate,currentlysomejointinspectionscanbedoneinintermodalareas.

ChemicalsManagementandWorkplaceChemicals

WorkplaceChemicals

TheU.S.DepartmentofLabor’sOccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration(OSHA)andHealthCanadaprovidedanupdateontheworkplacechemicalsworkplanundertheRCC.Bothcountriesareactiveinengagingstakeholders.Whiletheyhavealwaysenjoyedapositiverelationship,theRCCprovidedaplatformforincreasedcollaboration.Forexample,OSHAandHealthCanadasuccessfullyimplementedtheGloballyHarmonizedSystemofClassificationandLabelling(GHS)andcontinuetoalignontheirtechnicalinterpretationoftheGHS,workingtogetheroncommonpositionsandthentakingthemtothegloballevel.BotharealsoseekingalignmentinupdatingtheseventheditionoftheGHS.TheUnitedStatesandCanadameetregularlyonthisissueandareworkingtowardsjointguidancedocumentsinthefollowingareas:ComparisonofLabellingRequirementsforHazardousProducts,LabellingPictogramforHazardsNotOtherwiseClassified,andRegulatoryProcessesComparisonDocument.Thesewillbesharedwithstakeholdersshortly.

OSHAandHealthCanadaalsoannouncedthattheirMOUconcerninghealthandsafetyintheworkplacewithrespecttothedevelopmentandimplementationoftheGHShasbeenrenewed.

Movingforward,OSHAandHealthCanadawillcontinuetocollaborateonimplementingupdatestotheGHSintheirrespectivejurisdictions.ForthenextroundofRCCworkplans,proposedworkincludes:

Continueddevelopmentofjointguidancematerials;

CoordinationofcommonpositionsandparticipationininternationaldiscussionsontheGHS;and

MaintainingalignmentbetweenthetwocountriesasGHSupdatesareimplemented.

ChemicalsManagement

TheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),EnvironmentandClimateChangeCanada,andHealthCanadaprovidedanupdateontheworkplanforchemicalsmanagement,whichconsistsoftwoworkstreams:riskassessment,andSignificantNewActivity(SNAc)provisionsandSignificantNewUseRules(SNURs).Undertheriskassessmentworkstream,HealthCanadaandEPAconductedacomparativeanalysisofriskassessmentframeworks,collaboratedonchemicalsthatwereofcommonpriority,anddevelopedanassessmentcollaborationframeworkwiththegoalofincreasingalignment.Thisframework,developedbetween2016and2018,willenableenhancedalignmentonriskassessmentofchemicals,includingidentificationofriskassessmentpriorities,informationgatheringandsharing,riskassessmentmethodologies,worksharing,andjointassessments.Theframeworkisnowbeingoperationalizedthrougharollingworkplan.

UndertheSNAcandSNURsworkstream,regulatorsheldtechnicalworkinggroupmeetingstohelpdevelopacomparativeanalysisofjurisdictional,regulatory,policy,andprogramaspects.Stakeholderinterviewswerealsoconductedtobetterunderstandthedifferencesbetweenjurisdictionsandthe