Madam Speaker, the hon. member made reference to the District of Columbia circuit court decision, as have previous speakers.
I have a fax statement I would like to read and ask the member a question. It is fax from the EPA to Environment Canada that reads:
EPA has just learned of the D.C. circuit's decision requiring the agency to grant a fuel additive waiver for the manganese-based gasoline additive MMT. The agency is disappointed in the court's decision that EPA cannot consider health effects in deciding whether or not to grant these waivers.
This decision does not mean that unleaded gasoline containing MMT can now be sold. The Clean Air Act also requires that all new fuel additives, including MMT, must be tested and their health effects studied before they can be registered for use.
In 1994 EPA issued rules implementing this requirement that will govern the testing of MMT. MMT is not currently registered for use in unleaded gasoline. The agency will therefore require the testing concerning potential health effects of MMT be completed prior to its approval for this use.
I would like to know whether the hon. member is aware that tests will have to be completed before MMT can be used in the United States.