Further to your telephone call regarding a chemical product that is to be added to commercial swimming pools to reduce water evaporation, I am not aware of any approval from Health Canada that would be required for such a product. As the supplier of the product, it is your responsibility to ensure that it will not pose any health or safety hazards when used as directed. If the product contains any controlled substances it would have to be labelled in accordance with the requirements of the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, administered in B.C. by the B.C. Occupational Environmental Branch. A material safety data sheet (MSDS) would also be required.

If you later decide to market the product to the general public, it will have to meet any applicable consumer packaging and labelling requirements under the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, as well as other labelling requirements administered by Industry Canada. Legislation administered by Industry Canada would also deal with any misleading claims regarding the product. Provincial health ministries may also have some specific requirements regarding the use of such products in public and commercial pools. If the formulation contains any specific chemicals that are new to Canada, you should contact Environmental Canada.

For your future reference, chemical products containing disinfectants that claim to kill bacteria are dealt with under the Therapeutics Products Program of Health Canada, whereas other pesticides are subject to the requirements of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

Specific requirements for transporting chemicals are dealt with by Transport Canada.

Sincerely,
Sheila Welock
Product Safety Officer