CPCA was pleased to announce that the Canadian government’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency re-instated the use of OIT for paint and coatings and related products in Canada. The substance had been prohibited for use in these products since May 2019, and the ban had been a sticking point in discussions around the lack of alignment between Canada and the United States on re-evaluation of antimicrobial preservatives. The decision to reverse the ban will ensure that paint producers have access to a critical ingredient used for the preservation of paint and stains, which has been integral to the transition from solvent- to water-based coatings over the past decade. In addition, the same data used to re-evaluate OIT led to more positive news for industry when the usage rates for another important preservative – CMIT/MIT – reverted to previous functional values in Canada and now in full alignment with the United States as well. This points to the dire need for officials re-evaluating critical substances to fully consider ‘all’ the available science-based data in rendering final decisions. Currently, Canada is re-evaluating six other critical biocides used in coatings and adhesives/sealants, and a robust submission was made by CPCA and its members to ensure proper values are used in risk calculations at every level.