On June 18th, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued notice that it plans to implement an Interim Standard of 50 parts per billion (ppb) for perflouroctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as an indicator of PFAS substances in biosolids imported or sold as fertilizers. The standard goes into effect on October 18, 2024, so importers and blenders have four months to start demonstrating compliance before enforcement starts. Laboratory analyses will be required.

The CFIA will be collaborating with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Health Canada, and provincial government partners to ensure the safety of Canadian Agriculture. According to the press release, the interim standard was “designed to mitigate potential risks to Human Health and the Environment associated with land application of heavily contaminated biosolids” sold as commercial fertilizer. CFIA has prepared detailed compliance assistance document guidance available online: T-4- 132 – Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) standard for commercial biosolids imported or sold in Canada as fertilizers - inspection.canada.ca

The press release for this action mentions the benefits of properly treated and managed biosolids -- including increased soil nutrients and organic matter, diverted organic matter from landfill, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions among others. These interim standards represent an adaptive management approach as Canada continues to coordinate is risk management actions for PFAS. The interim standard was arrived at after careful consideration of the impacts on the waste diversion sector.

The Quebec government has initiated a public consultation process for proposed PFAS limits in fertilizing residual materials (FRM) through its Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks): https://environnement.gouv.qc.ca/matieres/consultation/encadrement-matieres-residuelles-fertilisantes/. The proposed limits are for 11 PFAS compounds, capping the total for all PFAS at 120 ppb. PFOS will be limited to 11 ppb and PFOA to 8 ppb. MELLCCFP is also proposing long-anticipated changes to many aspects of the guidance on managing residuals. Comments must be received by September 7th.

In related news, comments are due by September 11th on Canada’s Updated Draft State of PFAS Report [Updated draft state of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) report - Canada.ca] and Revised Risk Management Scope [Revised risk management scope for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - Canada.ca]. The revised risk management document proposes to include PFAS substances with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. Canada is proposing to regulate PFAS, not including flouropolymers, as a class and add those compounds as a regulated class under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.