The Government of Canada passed legislation to prohibit the manufacture and importation of lead-based wheel balance weights as an extension of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) originally released in 1999, according to WEGMANN automotive.
A project that has been on-going since 2014 reached approval during the first session of the Canadian 2023 Parliament calendar and was posted to the Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 157 on Feb. 15, 2023, thus becoming official, noted WEGMANN.
The new Canadian law, which will become enforceable on February 3, 2024, specifically bans the manufacture and importation of wheel balance weights containing more than 0.1% of lead.
Exemptions to the law include:
- An allowance for the domestic manufacturing of lead wheel balance weights within Canada designed only for export outside of Canada;
- Importation of lead wheel weights into Canada designed only for immediate transport through Canada to a destination address outside of Canada; and/or
- The importation of lead wheel weights already installed on vehicles.
Additionally, all lead wheel balance weight inventories already pre-existing in the Canadian market prior to February 3, 2024, are allowed to be sold and installed on vehicles within Canada as designed after the enforcement date, WEGMANN says. The main non-lead alternatives already available within the Canadian market are zinc, steel and plasteel wheel balance weight options.
“We were fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside the Government of Canada on developing this new law that will change the tire supply market within Canada in the coming months and years,” said Emile Lajoie, WEGMANN automotive Canadian sales director. “Our market is flush with readily available non-lead alternatives that will provide a continued positive user experience as well as a positive environmental impact.”
For more information, contact Gregory Parker at 615-916-3791 or [email protected]
