Canada moving ahead with toxic label for ‘forever chemicals,’ linked to cancer, hormone disruptions, liver disease – CTV
March 06, 2025
The federal government says it’s moving ahead with a plan to label so-called forever chemicals as toxic and expects to begin consultations in two years on further regulating their use in cosmetics, food packaging and other consumer products.
The government released its final report Wednesday on the class of thousands of chemicals known as PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, as well as its proposal for how to manage their risks.
PFAS are often labelled “forever chemicals” because they virtually never break down. They turn up in anything from soil to human blood and have been linked to serious health risks.
The report concludes PFAS meet the criteria to be labelled as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
“It’s an unprecedented approach, since we’re regulating the entire class of PFAS, and not just one substance, one molecule at a time,” Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said at a news conference in Montreal.
However, it excludes fluoropolymers such as the brand name Teflon because the report suggests they may have a different risk profile than other forever chemicals – a move criticized by environmental groups and welcomed by the chemicals industry.
