Health Canada Reveals Final Version of Canadian GHS
An important change has occurred on the Canadian regulatory scene. Health Canada has released the long-awaited revisions to the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) for hazardous workplace chemicals. This new system will introduce sweeping changes for classification of chemicals, labelling of workplace chemicals, and Material Safety Data Sheets (which will now be known simply as Safety Data Sheets or SDSs).
The new system will replace the Controlled Product Regulations with the Hazardous Products Regulations. This new regulation will incorporate a system that has been adopted by the United States, Europe and many other countries and economic zones. Using this new system is anticipated to help Canada compete in international markets, as well as make importing workplace chemicals less complicated and expensive.
The text of the new regulation can be downloaded from Canada Gazette’s website (PDF). Compliance will not be mandatory right away – there will be a series of transition periods, leading to final adoption by December 1, 2018. However, you may start using the new system immediately if you prefer.
Also updated is the regulation for considering trade secrets, the Hazardous Materials Information Review Regulations.
More WHMIS 2015 Resources
ICC Compliance Center is currently studying these new regulations, and will keep all our customers up to date on the changes. If you have questions about the impact of these changes, or how to implement them, please contact our regulatory specials here at ICC The Compliance Center Inc. by calling 1-888-977-4834 (Canada) or 1-888-442-9628 (USA).
Save
ICC USA
ICC Canada