Canada recently finalized the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Automotive Refinishing Products Regulations, which covers consumer and commercial products used in automotive refinishing, including paints, varnishes, adhesives and cleaners. Beginning June 18, 2010, the regulations will prohibit the manufacturing or importing of products that do not meet specified VOC limitations, and the sale and offer for sale of these same products will be prohibited on Dec. 8, 2010.

The new regulations are largely aligned with similar waterborne paint regulations passed in California and the European Union. Canada expects the regulations to reduce VOC emissions from automotive refinishing products by 71,100 metric tons over a 25-year period, resulting in an average reduction of 40 percent annually. The price tag for the implementation of the regulations is expected to be $330 million ($284 million), with the industry responsible for more than 99 percent of the cost.

The full text of the regulations is available HERE.