Influence, Inform, Create Change
The Canadian Paint and Coatings Association (CPCA) understands how policy, regulations and industry are intricately connected. Business outcomes can be negatively affected if government creates policy without a holistic approach that considers impacts to industry, the environment, and the economy. CPCA believes that collaboration between industry, government, and regulatory stakeholders is key to creating successful policy changes that are rooted evidence-based discussions, scientific facts, and industry best practices.
Members are the backbone of CPCA’s Technical Committees and Strategic Working Groups. They help us convey critical industry information to those that matter. More engagement and support is needed, more than ever before, to address the challenges before industry.
Committees by the Numbers
Committee Members
Technical Committees
Substances
Tracked
Want to Join a Committee?
CPCA welcomes new volunteer committee members to join a Technical Committee or Strategic Working Group of their choice. Your voice will help CPCA bring critical data insights to the people that matter.
PMRA Coatings and Adhesives Working Group
New to CPCA’s roster of sectoral working groups is the joint government-industry technical Coatings & Adhesives Working Group (CAWG) with PMRA. The CAWG is comprised of CPCA staff and CPCA member technical experts, as well as officials from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, and often includes representatives from the American Coatings Association, American Chemistry Council, and the US EPA.
It works to promote the exchange of technical information in support of PMRA’s plan to evaluate and re-evaluate material preservatives registered for use in the Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, and Elastomers (CASE) sector in Canada and to improve the industry’s understanding of pesticide regulation and its implications. The scope of the Working Group focuses on:
- PMRA’s proposed and final re-evaluation or special review decisions of CASE preservatives
- PMRA’s final decisions concerning new active material preservatives
- PMRA’s policies affecting the sector
- Possible international collaborations regarding certain PMRA files
The Committee works to ensure the continued safe use of a limited number of essential raw materials for the preservation of waterborne paint formulations, known as material preservatives authorized for use in Canada.
These antimicrobials are necessary to prevent or control the growth of microorganisms in waterborne CASE formulations. These products have achieved great consumer acceptance over the last 60 years, owing to their ease of application and clean-up, while sustaining overall product performance and facilitating the recovery and recycling of leftover paint.
Without preservation recovery and recycling of leftover paint could cease as an important product stewardship initiative developed over the past 20 years in Canada. Each one of the paint and coatings and adhesives and sealants (CASE) preservatives is re-evaluated according to the schedule of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.
Paint and Coatings
Working Group
CPCA and a long list of company representatives actively participating in the Paint and Coatings Working Group (PCWG), the first sectoral working group established with the Government of Canada in 2008 on issues impacting the CASE industry.
The PCWG specifically focuses on specific implications for proposed and existing regulations for the CASE industry in Canada, namely, the Chemicals Management Plan; VOC limits for three main CASE categories: Architectural, Auto Refinish, and Industrial, Commercial, Adhesives & Sealants; assessment of biocides used for CASE product preservation; impact of plastics and microplastics; EHS and worker safety; product stewardship; and more.
The PCWG meets twice annually with government officials to provide an improved understanding of the issues facing the sector vis-à-vis existing and proposed regulations under 20 Acts of Parliament. A comprehensive agenda is developed by both industry and government to update the critical issues for the CASE industry in Canada. These key meetings are co-chaired by Environment & Climate Change Canada and CPCA.
The PCWG strives to:
- Identify and provide direction on issues that need additional research and information gathering for risk assessors as well as directly providing technical data where needed
- Guidance on exposure scenarios used in risk assessments
- Input on the development of risk management approaches to protect human health and the environment while minimizing the impact on CASE products
- Validate the government’s various approaches for short- medium- and long-term regulatory priorities, as they affect the CASE sector
When required, CPCA interfaces directly with senior officials of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Health Canada, Pest Management Regulatory Authority, and Retail Council of Canada concerning specific unresolved issues of particular significance for the sector as identified by the PCWG. CPCA and PCWG members carefully undertake a holistic approach to monitoring, reporting, and engaging with governing bodies in support of fair, evidence-based, risk assessment.
Industry Coordinating Group (CEPA ICG)
CEPA-ICG is the Industry Coordinating Group comprised of 27 industry associations whose members use chemicals in products and it holds extensive multi-stakeholder consultations throughout the year on the federal government’s Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) assessing all chemicals in commerce in Canada.
It engages with government officials using a technical, science-based approach to exchange information thereby ensuring officials have the data needed to make informed decisions on both chemical risk assessment and risk management, all based on the ‘weight of evidence.’ The stakeholder group’s mandate is to advocate risk-based and economically efficient ways of reducing risks to the environment or human health from chemicals assessed under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, if not suitable to do so under other ‘Best Placed Acts’.
The ICG is purely a technical group and not a group that advocates for industry generally and more broadly.
Environment, Health
& Safety Committee
The Environment, Health and Safety Committee (EHS) addresses environmental, health, and safety issues affecting all segments of the coatings industry: architectural, industrial, and automotive. The committee has responsibilities in the following areas;
The Chemicals Management Program (CMP) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), Health and safety, transportation and supply chain management, and other government policies, legislation, and regulations impacting EHS.
Auto Refinishing
Advisory Council
This council was formed to address several initiatives related to VOC emissions reduction, codes of practice, and use of the best available technology for application of automotive refinishing products. It will continue to focus on the need to ensure regulations for industry is evidenced-based with direct input from member companies doing business in Canada. Automotive Refinish coatings is one of the product categories targeted by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Renewed Federal Agenda: Federal Agenda on the Reduction of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions from Consumer and Commercial Products for the 2021 to 2028
Adhesives & Sealants
Advisory Council
The paint and coatings industry continues to be among one of the most heavily regulated sectors in Canada’s economy. Adhesives and sealants companies are no exception, including more than 22 major companies among CPCA’s membership. To leverage CPCA’s regulatory approach, contacts and initiatives, the association created the Adhesives and Sealants Advisory Council to address current and future government regulations. This council provides relevant input for assessors to ensure that critical substances used in the industry are not inadvertently determined to be CEPA-toxic or where risk management measures are required, they are evidence-based, and properly managed. Adhesives and Sealants is one of the product categories targeted by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Renewed Federal Agenda: Federal Agenda on the Reduction of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions from Consumer and Commercial Products for the 2021 to 2028
Aerosol Coordinating
Sub-Committee
Working under the Environment, Health and Safety Committee, CPCA’s Aerosol Coordinating Subcommittee’s primary focus is on Canadian and North American VOC regulatory issues surrounding industrial and consumer aerosol paint products. This subcommittee also relies on the participation and support of members of the American Coatings Association from time to time. Together members ensure sound science, and evidence-based data is brought forward to governing bodies and decision-makers when regulations are being reviewed and updated. Aerosol coatings is one of the product categories targeted by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Renewed Federal Agenda: Federal Agenda on the Reduction of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions from Consumer and Commercial Products for the 2021 to 2028
Management Information Committee
The Management Information Committee (MIC) manages the CPCA Statistical Survey Program. It meets twice a year to:
- Review CPCA survey formats, participation rates and timeliness
- Review CPCA national statistics for the sector
- Develop new surveys and services
- Review economic trends and key indicators