Canadian Environmental Protection Act
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The Canadian Environmental Protection Act of 1999 is "An Act respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development."
The goal of the renewed Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEP) is to contribute to sustainable development through pollution prevention and to protect the environment, human life and health from the risks associated with toxic substances.
CEPA also recognises the contribution of pollution prevention and the management and control of toxic substances and hazardous waste to reducing threats to Canada's ecosystems and biological diversity.
It acknowledges for the first time the need to virtually eliminate the most persistent toxic substances that remain in the environment for extended periods of time before breaking down and bioaccumulative toxic substances that accumulate within living organisms.
Health Canada works in partnership with Environment Canada to assess potentially toxic substances and to develop regulations to control toxic substances. Some of the highlights of the new act include: