Regulations Amending the Hazardous Products Regulations (GHS, Seventh Revised Edition)
The regulatory amendments provide a 3-year transition period, ending on December 14, 2025. The 3-year transition period gives suppliers, employers, and workers time to adjust to the WHMIS changes and helps ensure consistency across Canada through coordination and alignment between federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions.
Key Changes to The WHMIS Regulation In 2023
- Improved clarity and precision for certain provisions
- New information elements required on safety data sheets (SDS)
- Adoption of a new physical hazard class (Chemicals Under Pressure)
- Adoption of a new hazard category for non-flammable aerosols and new subcategories for flammable gases
Health Canada along with U.S. Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) have been working to improve the chemical suppliers in North America in their approach with the standard world-wide system. The two governments have tabled amendments to their systems that will update hazard communication for workplace chemicals to at least the seventh revised edition of the “Purple Book.“
Health Canada has made an amendment which was published in the Canada Gazette in January 2023. The Hazardous Products Regulations, which directs suppliers of chemicals for classifying, labelling and providing SDSs for their products. This amendment published in Canada Gazette Part II will give Canadian suppliers three years (2026) to update their hazard communication.