ISSAlert June 7, 2017

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Canada Postpones GHS Deadlines

June 7, 2017                                               Contact: Bill Balek

The Government of Canada announced that it is extending certain of the deadlines associated with Canada’s implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling (GHS). 

Background.  On February 11, 2015, Canada published the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) that revise the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) to incorporate the GHS.  The revised WHMIS is now referred to as WHMIS 2015.  As originally published, WHMIS 2015 is to be implemented in stages over three major dates.  Canada has now revised two (2) of those effective dates as indicated below.

Old Deadline	New Deadline	What	Who
June 1, 2017	June 1, 2018	SDS, Labeling	Manufacturers, Importers
June 1, 2018	Sept. 1, 2018	SDS, Labeling	Distributors
Dec. 1, 2018	SAME	In-House	Employers*

*Note:  Employers will be able to use products with “old” labels and SDSs that are in the workplace as of Dec. 1, 2018 until June 1, 2019.

Additional Information.  Contact Bill Balek, ISSA, [email protected] for additional information on this topic.  This subject will also be touched upon (among others) at The ISSA Forum