Health Canada has recently updated its information on the Revised In Commerce List (R-ICL), which contains substances that were used in products regulated under the Food and Drugs Act and were in Canadian commerce between January 1, 1987, and September 13, 2001.
The R-ICL was created to account for substances that were already in commerce before the current requirements for new substances came into effect. Unlike substances on the Domestic Substances List (DSL), substances remaining on the R-ICL are not considered to be on the DSL and subjected to the New Substances Notification Regulations (NSNR) of Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).
656 R-ICL Substances Added to the DSL
As of August 12, 2026, 656 substances from the R-ICL have been added to the Domestic Substances List (DSL). Once added to the DSL, these substances are removed from the R-ICL and are no longer considered new substances under CEPA.
What Does This Mean for Industry?
Companies importing or manufacturing substances in Canada should review the updated R-ICL tracking table to determine whether substances used in their products have been added to the DSL. The list can be found here.
Substances that remain on the R-ICL may still be subject to NSNR requirements if they are imported or manufactured for uses outside those regulated under the Food and Drugs Act.
Companies should:
- Review the R-ICL tracking table for relevant substances.
- Confirm whether R-ICL substances have been added to the DSL.
- Determine whether any remaining R-ICL substances require notification under the NSNR.
- Continue monitoring Health Canada updates as the status of R-ICL substances evolves.
Blog Author
Sarah D’Mello, B.Sc.
Sarah D’Mello is a Senior Product Safety Specialist at Dell Tech with expertise in hazard communication for industrial and consumer products across Canada and the U.S. With a strong background in environmental science and engineering, she provides clients with trusted guidance on product safety and regulatory compliance.
