What's So Special About MEKO? | Help Center

What’s So Special About MEKO

Not every chemical will get the same attention. Some are considered hazardous, some are considered non-hazardous, and some are questions of concern. Health Canada has put a Code of Practice on 2-Butanone, oxime (Butanone oxime), otherwise known as MEKO, CAS Number 96-29-7.

According to Health Canada, MEKO is used in consumer products such as alkyd paints, coatings, primers, varnishes, and stains as an anti-skimming agent. As well as pesticide products, wood preservatives, adhesives, silicone sealants, and printing inks. As of December of 2011, a final order was issued for MEKO to be added to Schedule 1, otherwise known as the “Toxic Substance List”. Health Canada defines a toxic substance as:

have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or its biological diversity;
constitute or may constitute a danger to the environment on which life depends; or
constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health.

This triggered a significant new activity (SNAc) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999. A SNAc is designed to assess a substance for potential risk to humans and the environment if a chemical is either imported or manufactured for use. This is done by cooperating with the Government of Canada in obtaining data to evaluate the substance.

When researching MEKO, it was determined that it does pose human health risks. Several studies on rats were conducted and showed there was an increase in liver size and created tumors on the liver when inhaling small concentrations. This gave rise to further research and eventually, the Code of Practice for the use of MEKO was published as of June 2014. The Code of Practice is designed to educate the manufacturer/importer on health and safety precautions when using any product that contains MEKO. Manufactures are now supposed to include proper safe and handling information if this chemical exists in their product. This implies education through brochures, information on websites, and labeling of the product. in their product. This implies education through brochures, information on websites and labelling of the product.

The focus of the education is geared toward consumer products such as alkyd paints, coatings, primers, varnishes, and stains as an anti-skimming agent for indoor use. The purpose is to reduce indoor air concentrations of MEKO. To do this every product label should have the following statement:alkyd paints, coatings, primers, varnishes and stains as an anti-skimming agent for indoor use. The purpose is to reduce indoor air concentrations of MEKO. To do this every product label should have the following statement:

“USE ONLY IN A WELL-VENTILATED AREA”

To understand the full Code of Practice, it can be downloaded from Health Canada’s website labeled, “Code of Practice for 2-Butanone, oxime (Butanone oxime) Associated with the Interior Application of Consumer Alkyd Paint and Coating Products”.

ICC Compliance Center has a team of full-time Regulatory Experts who have years of experience and are certified/recognized in their field of expertise. Contact us about authoring, reformatting, updating, and translating your SDSs. Ask us your tough questions by calling 888.442.9628 (USA) or 888.977.4834 (Canada).