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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
What Brands Should Know About Forthcoming Canadian, US PFAS Regulations
About 12,000 different chemicals make up the family of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. These 'forever chemicals' have innumerable uses across product categories like footwear, apparel and accessories. They've also been linked to manifold risks to human health and the environment. Whether used as a part of a manufacturing process or as an additive in a finished product, PFAS has been found in groundwater, drinking water and different bodies of water accessible to humans. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposure may lead to reproductive effects and interference with hormones, developmental delays in children, certain cancers, and immune system damage. More from Sourcing Journal WTO to Intervene in Trade Disputes Between Canada and China DHL Express Canada Seeks 'Anti-Scab' Law Exemption, Citing 'Essential' Services DHL Express Canada Plans Temporary Shutdown on Stalled Labor Talks With these issues as a backdrop, the Canadian Apparel Federation and Marten Law hosted a webinar Wednesday dedicated to understanding the recent governmental intervention when it comes to companies' use of PFAS. James Pollack, who leads Marten Law's consumer products regulatory practice, laid out the legislative continuum when it comes to regulation. The first set of products that became the focus of PFAS bans were children's products, and the next tranche of prohibitions focused on cookware, with the idea that PFAS might move from cooking surfaces or packaging into food. 'What's interesting is the next set of products that became a focus for folks was textiles, including apparel and footwear. And I think part of it is this visceral sense of, 'Well, I'm putting it on my body. There must be some sort of dermal transmission,'' Pollack said. Research on this is still ongoing, with a number of universities Like Duke researching whether PFAS can be absorbed through the skin. Last year, a team of researchers at Environment International, a team of researchers released findings that PFAS can indeed permeate the skin's barrier and enter the bloodstream. 'There are a number of states that have started to regulate PFAS in apparel and textiles more broadly, and each of the states defines those subjects differently,' Pollack said. In Washington state, for example, intentionally added PFAS—which is added to a product to attain a technical effect, like waterproofing—is banned. But other states, like Vermont, have an expanded ban that covers all PFAS detectable within a product, even if it's unintentionally added as a result of a manufacturing process. Manufacturing is becoming an increasingly studied part of the PFAS journey, as the chemicals might be used on machines as a lubricant or a surfactant to help a plastic mold release, for example. According to Pollack, regulation may have outpaced science at this juncture, with a less-than-complete understanding of PFAS' risks or methods of transmission into the human body. Most believe that drinking water is the primary route of exposure, though there are studies about whether it might be inhaled as dust particles, for example. As such, clothing and products like carpets (which might release those particles) are being studied. In California, key regulations include bans on intentionally added PFAS chemicals in textiles, cosmetics and food packaging. The rollout of the PFAS textile ban will come in waves, as stipulated by AB1817. On Jan. 1, total organic fluorine levels were limited to 100 ppm, and that number will drop to 50 ppm in 2027 (though apparel made for severe outdoor conditions has until 2028 to achieve compliance). Meanwhile, Maine, Minnesota and New Mexico have also made aggressive moves to ban the use of PFAS, with the former being the first to implement a comprehensive ban on all non-essential uses (though it's considering a bill that would exempt fluoropolymer-coated cookware). Minnesota and New Mexico also have broad bans on intentionally added use of PFAS, though Minnesota is mulling exempting commercial and industrial products. The state is also implementing mandatory chemical reporting requirements for products currently offered for sale on store shelves on Jan. 1, 2026. 'Those states are implementing these broad bans, and they create limited exemptions for what are called currently 'unavoidable uses,' which you have to apply for,' Pollack said. 'You have to show that there's no viable alternative and that the use is helpful for… the functioning of society or health and wellness of people. So a relatively limited exemption possibility there.' Isabel Carey, a senior associate with the firm who heads up its Toronto office, spoke to Canada's regulatory environment. 'In March, Environment Canada and Health Canada proposed adding PFAS chemicals as a class with a major note as toxic substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act,' she explained, noting that fluoropolymers—a major type of PFAS used in the textile and apparel industry—are excluded because of differences in how people are exposed to them and the hazards that they pose to human health. Once the government's proposal to classify the chemicals as toxic substances is finalized, there's no immediate regulatory consequence, nor does the classification prohibit the use of PFAS in the Canadian economy. It simply authorizes the government to issue regulations targeting those substances. According to Marten Law, the agencies further proposed phasing out PFAS use 'wherever feasible'—firstly, in firefighting foams, and then across a range of industries like textiles, food packaging, cosmetics and medical devices where they believe the chemicals can be replaced. During Phase Two of regulation, Canada will evaluate prohibiting PFAS use in industries where alternatives are not available, and where the chemicals aren't being used for the protection of human health, safety or the environment. The agencies haven't proposed binding regulations to implement their plans, but have announced that implementing regulations will be developed beginning in 2027, Marten Law added.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
DHL Express Canada Reaches Deal With Union, Resumes Service
DHL Express Canada and the Unifor labor union have ratified a new four-year contract, enabling the company to resume operations across the country Monday. After locking out its 2,100 union couriers, truck drivers and warehouse workers on June 8, the workers went on strike and began picketing the package delivery firm's 18 facilities. More from Sourcing Journal China Trade Deal Solidified As Talks With Canada Devolve Levi's and Holt Renfrew Plan Popups and Activations What Brands Should Know About Forthcoming Canadian, US PFAS Regulations With the labor stoppage in effect, DHL began using replacement workers until the nationwide Bill C-58 'anti-scab' legislation went into effect on June 20. The courier shuttered service across Canada after the law's implementation. DHL Express Canada, whose 50,000 customers in Canada include Shein, Temu and Lululemon, lifted its service suspension two days upon union ratification of the agreement on late Saturday. Voting on the tentative deal, which was struck on Wednesday, took place on Friday and Saturday. According to Unifor, 72 percent of voters agreed to ratify the agreement. The new contract features a 15.75 percent increase in wages throughout the life of the contract, a new payment structure for owner-operators, pension increases for hourly workers and a new pension for owner-operators. In addition, there are increases to short and long-term disability payments, a new mental health benefit, increases to severance, wage adjustments and new contract language around AI, robotics and automation A report from Canadian news publication The Globe and Mail said the agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, and workers will also get a $500 lump sum bonus. The agreement ends a negotiation period that started on Oct. 1 last year. The previous collective bargaining agreement expired on Dec. 31. That deal, which was active since January 2020, included an annual wage increase of 2.5 percent. Unifor had demanded a 22 percent salary increase for hourly employees, as well as a 42 percent wage hike for owner-operators of trucks, over three years. DHL had most recently proposed a 15 percent wage boost over five years for hourly workers. Both sides had sparred beyond the hourly wage demands, namely with the method of compensation for truck drivers. Unifor said that its members sometimes had to drive up to 100 kilometers to get to a meet-up point where they would pick up freight and then begin doing deliveries in an area. The drivers were not compensated for driving to that meet-up point. Sivadas Santosh, the lead negotiator for Unifor, told The Globe and Mail that the new agreement addresses the issue by ensuring the union has a say in the distance each driver has to drive to get to a meet-up point. Once the lockout occurred, the bickering shifted to the use of replacement workers, and a debate over whether DHL Express performed essential services required to necessitate an exemption to Bill C-58. The company had asked Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Canadian government for an exemption to the law, citing that a DHL shutdown would pose risks to the country's supply chain, reduced availability of goods and increased consumer prices. Unifor had fired back that DHL is not one of the top four express package delivery companies in Canada, and that DHL workers represent fewer than 0.7 percent of all local delivery workers and less than 15 percent of all courier workers in the country. On Tuesday, Unifor filed a formal complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) alleging 'blatant' violations of the new federal legislation. The union claimed it submitted evidence including images of busloads of replacement workers at DHL's facilities near Hamilton airport, as well as online package tracking data that indicates the continued use of third-party contractors after the June 20 implementation. If DHL were to bring on replacement workers with the new law in effect, it would pay a daily fine of up to $100,000 Canadian dollars ($73,167) per day. With the DHL ratification vote concluded, Canada's other parcel shipping labor dispute continues to await the date for a government-mandated union vote on final contract offers from Canada Post. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have urged members to vote 'no' on two separate contract offers for its urban unit and rural and suburban segment. The 55,000 workers impacted by the labor negotiations have not imposed strike action. They have instead instituted an overtime ban. On Thursday, the union shared concerns that robotics, automation and artificial intelligence 'pose a direct threat' to the job security of urban postal workers. Last month, Canada Post said it would deploy two small packet sorter robots in an induction platform at the courier's Gateway facility in Toronto. 'The result will be job loss for postal clerks,' said CUPW national president Jan Simpson. 'Maintenance workers will also be impacted. Minor repairs and maintenance will be handled on-site by CUPW employees, but more intensive breakdowns, preventative maintenance and other activities will be handled by a subsidiary of the vendor if needed.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
China Trade Deal Solidified As Talks With Canada Devolve
The United States and China have finalized the terms of a trade framework brokered by officials in London and Geneva over the course of recent weeks. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that Beijing had signed the agreement, following comments from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that the deal was 'signed and sealed' earlier in the week. Neither official provided more details, though it's likely that access to China's rare earth minerals, including magnets, is a key part of the arrangement. Appearing on Bloomberg TV Thursday evening, Lutnick said that the country would 'deliver rare earths to us' and that the U.S. would in turn 'take down our countermeasures.' More from Sourcing Journal DHL Express Canada Reaches Tentative Deal With Union, Service to Resume on Ratification EU Cracks Down on €700M Customs Fraud Ring Tied to Chinese Imports Tariffs Upend Fashion Sourcing and Disrupt Cash Flow Amid Widening Trade Gap A White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter told NPR that this week's agreement centered on mineral accessibility for the U.S. and did not pertain to tariff rates. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce released a statement confirming that a consensus had been reached between the two nations. 'After the London talks, the teams of China and the United States maintained close communication. Recently, with approval, the two sides further confirmed the details of the framework,' the Ministry wrote in a statement. 'China will review and approve the export applications of controlled items that meet the conditions in accordance with the law. The United States will cancel a series of restrictive measures taken against China accordingly.' 'It is hoped that the United States and China will meet each other halfway, follow the important consensus and requirements reached by the two heads of state on June 5, further play the role of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, continuously enhance consensus, reduce misunderstandings, strengthen cooperation, and jointly promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations.' On June 5, cabinet members including Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent traveled to London to revive conversations with Beijing officials following the breakdown of an earlier agreement brokered in Geneva during May which resulted in a trade truce wherein the U.S. agreed to limit duties on China-made goods to 30 percent (much lower than the triple-digit duties threatened in the spring), and China agreed to lower its duties on American goods to 10 percent. Following the London meeting, Trump Truthed that a higher duty rate of 55 percent would be levied on China-made products, and officials said China agreed to lowering export barriers on rare earth minerals. Lutnick also this week said that 10 trade deals with other major U.S. trading partners were imminent. Bessent on Friday told Fox Business that he believes 'we could have trade wrapped up by Labor Day,' a departure from the July 9 deadline the White House originally imposed when Trump deferred his April 'Liberation Day' tariffs for 90 days. On Friday, however, Trump appeared to clarify that Canada would not be among the administration's trade priorities. In a missive on Truth Social, the president wrote that Canada—'a very difficult Country to TRADE with'—would be implementing a digital services tax on U.S. tech companies, a move that he called 'a direct and blatant attack on our Country.' 'They are obviously copying the European Union, which has done the same thing, and is currently under discussion with us, also. Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately,' Trump wrote. 'We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period.' In May, Canada effectively canceled its retaliatory duties on the U.S. in an effort to cool trade tensions. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Three-week DHL Express Canada lockout and strike end with new four-year contact ratified
Canada's largest private sector union says a three-week lockout and strike at DHL Express Canada is ending after workers ratified a new agreement. Unifor says the four-year agreement reached with the delivery company was ratified with 72 per cent support from members. The agreement impacts more than 2,100 DHL Express Canada employees who work as truck drivers, couriers and in warehouse and clerical roles. 'I am so proud of all the members of the national bargaining committee for standing strong and fighting for the respect they deserved,' Unifor National President Lana Payne said in a news release Saturday that announced the results of the ratification vote. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. DHL Express said in a statement that it has restored all services in Canada and that all of its operations will be reinstated effective June 30. 'We are excited to resume our operations and welcome back all our team members. Together, we'll prioritize delivering the highest quality service to our customers,' the company's statement said. The workers were locked out after midnight on June 8 and went on strike hours later. The company and the union, who had been negotiating for close to a year, sparred over the use of replacement workers as federal legislation banning the practice took effect during the work stoppage. The German-owned courier, whose 50,000 customers in Canada include Lululemon, Shein and Siemens, continued operations for the first dozen days of the work stoppage and then shut down operations early on the morning of June 20, the same day the legislation took effect. The company tied the shutdown to stalled negotiations as well as the revised rules, which bar new hires from filling the role of federally regulated employees who are on strike or locked out. Payne had accused the company of bringing in replacement workers — a claim DHL hadn't denied. She said the move was legal at the time, but was undermining fair wages. 'This is a historic dispute in our union's books because we were the test case for the new anti-scab legislation and our union and members stood tall, held strong, and the end result is we got a fair collective agreement,' Payne said in Saturday's news release. Unifor said the ratified contract includes a 15.75 per cent wage hike, pension increases for hourly workers and a new pension for owner-operators. It said the agreement also features increases to short- and long-term disability payments, new mental-health benefits, a rise in severance and updated language around artificial intelligence, robotics and work-from-home policies. The union said the DHL workers will return to work after the ratification, but offered no definite timeline. It thanked the public for its patience as workers resolve the backlog of packages and deliveries. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Three-week DHL Express Canada lockout and strike end with new four-year contact ratified
New deal includes a 15.75% wage hike, pension increases for hourly workers and a new pension for owner-operators Published Jun 29, 2025 • 2 minute read Unifor members at DHL Express Canada ratified a new four-year agreement Saturday, ending a nearly three-week lockout and strike. Photo by Frank Franklin II / AP Canada's largest private sector union says a three-week lockout and strike at DHL Express Canada is ending after workers ratified a new agreement. Unifor says the four-year agreement reached with the delivery company was ratified with 72 per cent support from members. The agreement impacts more than 2,100 DHL Express Canada employees who work as truck drivers, couriers and in warehouse and clerical roles. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors 'I am so proud of all the members of the national bargaining committee for standing strong and fighting for the respect they deserved,' Unifor National President Lana Payne said in a news release Saturday that announced the results of the ratification vote. DHL Express said in a statement that it has restored all services in Canada and that all of its operations will be reinstated effective June 30. 'We are excited to resume our operations and welcome back all our team members. Together, we'll prioritize delivering the highest quality service to our customers,' the company's statement said. The workers were locked out after midnight on June 8 and went on strike hours later. The company and the union, who had been negotiating for close to a year, sparred over the use of replacement workers as federal legislation banning the practice took effect during the work stoppage. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again The German-owned courier, whose 50,000 customers in Canada include Lululemon, Shein and Siemens, continued operations for the first dozen days of the work stoppage and then shut down operations early on the morning of June 20, the same day the legislation took effect. The company tied the shutdown to stalled negotiations as well as the revised rules, which bar new hires from filling the role of federally regulated employees who are on strike or locked out. Payne had accused the company of bringing in replacement workers — a claim DHL hadn't denied. She said the move was legal at the time, but was undermining fair wages. 'This is a historic dispute in our union's books because we were the test case for the new anti-scab legislation and our union and members stood tall, held strong, and the end result is we got a fair collective agreement,' Payne said in Saturday's news release. Unifor said the ratified contract includes a 15.75 per cent wage hike, pension increases for hourly workers and a new pension for owner-operators. It said the agreement also features increases to short- and long-term disability payments, new mental-health benefits, a rise in severance and updated language around artificial intelligence, robotics and work-from-home policies. The union said the DHL workers will return to work after the ratification, but offered no definite timeline. It thanked the public for its patience as workers resolve the backlog of packages and deliveries. Read More Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Cult of Hockey Local News Cult of Hockey Cult of Hockey Edmonton Oilers
