Regulatory Compliance
Objective: adherence to laws, regulations, guidelines and specifications relevant to its business.
GHS stands for the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. GHS is a system that defines and classifies the hazards of chemical products, and communicates health and safety information on labels and safety data sheets). The goal is that the same set of rules for classifying hazards, and the same format and content for labels and safety data sheets (SDS) will be adopted and used around the world. An international team of hazard communication experts developed GHS.
Currently many different countries have different systems for classification and labelling of chemical products. In addition, several different systems can exist even within the same country. This situation has been expensive for governments to regulate and enforce, costly for companies who have to comply with many different systems, and confusing for workers who need to understand the hazards of a chemical in order to work safely. GHS promises to deliver several distinct benefits. Among them are:
- Promoting regulatory efficiency.
- Facilitating trade. Easing compliance.
- Reducing costs.
- Providing improved, consistent hazard information.
- Encouraging the safe transport, handling and use of chemicals.
- Promoting better emergency response to chemical incidents.
- Reducing the need for animal testing.
The GHS system covers all hazardous chemicals and may be adopted to cover chemicals in the workplace, transport, consumer products, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. The target audiences for GHS include workers,transport workers, emergency responders and consumers.
Regulatory Update |
|
February 4, 2026. On January 15, 2026, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced a four-month extension to the transition periods for the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). As a result, the new U.S. compliance deadline for hazardous mixtures has changed from July 19, 2027, to November 19, 2027. Health Canada recognizes the significance of this extension, especially for stakeholders managing cross-border supply chains. In Canada, the three-year transition period for updating product classifications, safety data sheets, and labels to comply with the amended Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) ended on December 14, 2025. Since December 15, 2025, all hazardous products in Canada are required to be fully compliant with the amended HPR. As part of the Government of Canada's red tape reduction efforts, Health Canada announced and remains committed to focusing on compliance promotion of the HPR with regulated parties until the end of the applicable U.S. transition period, which is now extended to November 19, 2027. Please note that Health Canada retains authority to take measures to induce or compel compliance at any time with the HPR, if warranted. Health Canada remains committed to the objectives of the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council, including aligned implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals in both countries. The Department will continue to support Canadian businesses in meeting their regulatory obligations. If you have questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information, click here. |
|
November 17, 2023. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is contacting companies that manufacture, distribute or sell cleaning products. Certain cleaning products are known to contain a class of substance called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Some subgroups of PFAS were previously found to be toxic to the environment and are prohibited in Canada. ECCC is providing the following information so that you can ensure that you are in compliance with the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012 (the Regulations). READ MORE |
|
November 6, 2023. The Canadian Government has released a reminder that regulatory limits for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) for the manufacture and import of products in Canada listed in schedules 1 and 2 of the Volatile Organic Compound Concentration Limits for Certain Products Regulations (the Regulations). The regulatory limits will come into effect on January 1, 2024, for all product categories, except disinfectants, whose limits come into effect on January 1, 2025. The purpose of the Regulations is to prohibit the import and manufacture of products in Canada that exceed prescribed VOC concentration limits for approximately 130 product categories and subcategories. Products include:
These products, used in household, institutional, commercial and industrial settings, contribute to Canadian VOC emissions. Products that exceed the regulatory limits will require permits for their manufacture and import after the limits come into effect. Additional information on the regulations and alternative compliance options can be found HERE. |
|
January 10, 2022. On January 5, the Volatile Organic Compound Concentration Limits for Certain Products Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 156, No. 1 - January 5, 2022. The regulations apply to manufacturers and importers, and establish concentration limits for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in approximately 130 product categories and subcategories. READ MORE |
|
Building service contractors and in-house providers of cleaning services have until December. 1, 2018 to come into full compliance with the Canadian Workplace Hazardous Material Information System as revised by GHS (“WHMIS 2015”). However, please note that specific dates may vary by jurisdiction so you should check your jurisdiction’s deadline on http://whmis.org or by contacting your WHMIS regulator. The last date on which a controlled product with a WHMIS 1988 Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)/label can be sold to your workplace is August 31, 2018. As of September 1, 2018, all hazardous products sold or imported for use in a workplace in Canada must be compliant with WHMIS 2015. If you have not begun transitioning to WHMIS 2015, this timeline may leave your workplace with only 3 months (September 1 to November 30, 2018) to transition your WHMIS 1988 products to WHMIS 2015 compliance. Some good practices to consider when preparing for this transition are:
Additional Information. For more information on WHMIS 2015 visit www.whmis.gc.ca In addition, a variety of courses are available to help you prepare at http://ccohs.ca/education/ |
|
Canada Gazette of April 1, 2017 published a mandatory Section 71 data call-in for hexavalent chromium salts which must be submitted by June 28, 2017. The list of chemicals involved is found at: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2017/2017-04-01/pdf/g1-15113.pdf It is not expected that these are used by ISSA Canada members, but if the reporting criteria are met filing is required by law. Canada Gazette I of April 29, 2017 found that EDTA and 3 of its salts, Tetrasodium EDTA, ferric monosodium EDTA and ferric ammonium EDTA did not meet the CEPA toxicity requirements and no further action would be taken. Some of these are used by membership so this is good news. Canada Gazette I of May 27 2017 proposed the addition of Cobalt and 50 of its soluble salts to Schedule I. These chemicals are listed at: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2017/2017-05-27/pdf/g1-15121.pdf These compounds would likely find minimal use by ISSA Canada membership.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canada Gazette I of Oct. 17/15 evaluated 5 compounds and found them to be toxic or potentially toxic under CEPA. As a result the minister issued conditions under which these compounds may be used. The compounds are:
|
|
|
|
Mandatory surveys issued under section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) gather information needed to support risk assessment and, if necessary, risk management activities.
|
2015 June CSSA regulatory Report. A follow-up report will be required 30 days after the incident. Details are found: HERE |
Can Clean 2015 Seminar. The New WHMIS – Implementing the Globally Harmonized System. The session will touch on the origins of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) from purple book to WHMIS, and the time frame for implementation. The new classification scheme and symbols for GHS will be illustrated, as well as the significant differences between GHS and the old WHMIS system. Form more information, please click HERE |
Canada moves to Adopt Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling Hazardous Substances The Canada Gazette of August 9/14 announced Canada’s official adoption of GHS by putting forward the proposed Hazardous product Regulations. read more.... . |
April 2014 CSSA Regulatory Report
|