New rules for reducing the threat of toxic substances to human health and the environment are now in force, Environment Minister David Anderson announced April 4, 2000. The Minister's announcement that the new Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) is now law, was made at a public information session in Hull, Quebec.

"The new Canadian Environmental Protection Act is one of the most advanced environmental laws of its kind in the developed world and will be our most important tool in preventing the release of toxic substances into our air and water," Minister Anderson told participants in the information session.

The new Act is designed to provide strong protection for the environment and for human health through science-based pollution prevention strategies. It incorporates current scientific understanding about the impact of toxic substances and pollutants on the environment and health, and places a new emphasis on public accountability and transparency. The new CEPA was approved by Parliament in September 1999 and gives the Government of Canada stronger powers and new tools.

The new law emphasizes the importance of preventing pollution rather than cleaning it up after the fact. It explicitly acknowledges that the protection of the environment is essential to the well-being of Canadians and that the primary purpose of this Act is to contribute to sustainable development through pollution prevention.

More information on the new CEPA is available on Environment Canada's Green Lane web site. An Information Kit on the new CEPA can be obtained by contacting Environment Canada's Inquiry Centre at 1-800-668-6767, or by e-mail.