Filing a Submission

Considering filing a Submission?

Answer these 3 questions when considering whether to file a submission:

  1. Can you identify an environmental law which you believe is not being effectively enforced regarding a specific environmental issue?
  2. Have you contacted the appropriate country representative?
  3. Do you have documents or other information supporting your assertion?

Please note that as of July 1, 2020, the SEM Process is now governed by Articles 24.27 and 24.28 from the Environment Chapter of CUSMA/TMEC/USMCA. There are some changes to the process, particularly with respect to which environmental laws can be asserted in a submission.

For more detailed information, please click here.

If you are considering filing a submission, please use our fillable form which can be downloaded by clicking the button below. The form summarizes the new requirements and will guide you through the process of what you need to include in your submission.

Fillable form

Filing a Submission

As of July 1, 2020, the SEM process is governed by the provisions of the new trade agreement among Canada, Mexico and the United States The agreement is known as CUSMA, T-MEC, and USMCA in each of these three countries, respectively. The SEM provisions are included in Chapter 24 (Environment): Article 24.27 (Submissions) and Article 24.28 (Factual Records and Related Cooperation).

The SEM-related provisions from Chapter 24, the applicable SEM-related definitions from Chapter 1, and the complete Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA) are available on our “Filing a Submission” page under Publications.

Aside from shortening certain SEM-related time frames for the Secretariat’s review of a submission and the Party’s review of submissions referred by the Secretariat, the new trade agreement does not significantly change the SEM process from the previous North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) SEM process, except in two areas:

  1. the trade agreement narrows the scope of environmental laws that can be invoked in a submission to those enacted, promulgated or enforced by the central level of government in each Party (see the applicable definition of “environmental law” in Article 24.1); and
  2. submitters are no longer limited to residents of or non-governmental organizations established in the territory of a Party, as they were under the NAAEC, but are now defined to include “any person [or enterprise] of a Party”(see the applicable definitions of these terms in Article 1.5 (General Definitions).

What Happens When a Submission is Filed?

What Happens When the Secretariat Recommends a Factual Record?

Fillable form

This form guides you on how to prepare a Submission on Enforcement Matters (SEM) under Article 24.27 of the new USMCA/CUSMA Trade Agreement, effective July 1, 2020.

To prepare your submission, read carefully the instructions on how to fill-out this form. Once completed, send it by email to sem@cec.org along with any attachments or links to download them.

Fillable form

SEM Submissions

Publications

Here are some tools for filing a submission, guidelines, and analysis of the SEM process.

The SEM Process in North America and Relevant Agreements

June 19, 2023

This booklet contains the ECA and selected chapters of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA/CUSMA/T-MEC). This document highlights provisions applicable to the Submissions on Enforcement Matters (SEM) process under Articles 24.27 and 24.28 of the USMCA/CUSMA/T-MEC. Also, applicable provisions of the ECA are highlighted.

Submissions Status Report

November 9, 2021

To know the status of all active and closed Submissions

Guidelines for Submissions on Enforcement Matters

February 1, 2013

This booklet contains the Guidelines for Submissions on Enforcement Matters created originally to implement the process under North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation.

Contact SEM

If you have questions about the submission process, contact the SEM unit:

Paolo Solano Tovar
Director, Legal Affairs and SEM Unit
(514) 350-4321