Canada releases draft regulations to adopt the Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
12 Sep 2014
Mississauga, Canada - Intertek (www.intertek.com), a leading provider of quality and safety services to industries worldwide, announced today that Health Canada has released the highly anticipated Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) draft regulations. These proposals cover the Government of Canada’s planned approach for adopting the United Nations’ GHS system. The intended adoption of GHS is described in the newly released Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR), which have been recently published in draft form within Part I of the Canada Gazette.
Once adopted, the Canadian HPR will replace the hazard classification and communication requirements prescribed under the current Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). The new hazcom system is expected to trigger the chemical industry’s need for revision of ingredient and product hazard classifications, label requirements, and safety data sheets (SDSs; formerly called material safety data sheets or MSDSs).
The transition periods for implementation and enforcement of the adopted requirements are still being finalized by the federal government and are anticipated to reflect the need for:
- Employee training on the new label and SDS elements;
- Staggered compliance with label and SDS provisions by manufactures, importers and distributors; and
- Revisions to workplace employer responsibilities, including updating hazard communication programs, in-house SDS/container labeling and employee training.
Ms. Joyce Borkhoff, Director of the Chemicals Group for Intertek Scientific & Regulatory, states, “Intertek has been closely tracking Canada’s assessment and adoption of the UN GHS building-block program. This recent regulatory announcement is an important step towards harmonizing Canada’s hazard communication standards with its key trading partners such as the US and EU. Although much work will be required by the chemical industry to overhaul their hazard communication systems to meet Canada’s new program requirement, the HPR are better aligned with international standards. This new system should reduce barriers to international trade.”
As a global leader in delivering expert regulatory advice, Intertek recognizes that keeping track of and complying with new regulations presents a challenge for chemical companies and their customers. Given the short turn-around time that chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and processors will face when attempting to understand and comply with the new HPR, it is vitally important for this regulated community to act now if they want to promote and maintain reliable supply chain relationships with their customers and foreign suppliers.
Intertek’s team of experienced toxicologists, product safety specialists, and hazcom regulatory experts are well positioned to help chemical companies understand and address the new hazard communication requirements that will be mandated under Canada’s new Hazardous Products Regulations.
To learn more about the regulatory services offered by our scientific and regulatory consultants and from the larger Intertek organization, please visit www.intertek.com/green/canadian-ghs-hazard-communication/.
Contacts:
For Market Inquiries:
Joyce Borkhoff
Director, New Jersey Office
Intertek Scientific & Regulatory Consultancy
Tel.:+1 (905) 542-2900
Email: joyce.borkhoff@intertek.com
For Media Inquiries:
Tracy Veale
Marketing Manager
Global Health, Environmental & Regulatory Services
Intertek Life Sciences
Direct: 905-286-4182
Email: tracy.veale@intertek.com
About Intertek
Intertek is a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide. From auditing and inspection, to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value for its customers by helping improve the quality and safety of their products, assets and processes. With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 36,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies’ success in the global marketplace, by helping customers to meet end users’ expectations for safety, sustainability, performance, integrity and desirability in virtually any market worldwide.
Visit www.intertek.com