Canada Postpones GHS Implementation

Canadian Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) 1988 was the national hazard communication standard of Canada. It was modified by the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) and some amendments to the Hazardous Products Act (HPA) in 2015. The newly modified WHMIS 2015 incorporated the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) for chemicals in workplaces.

WHMIS stipulated the implementation date of GHS requirements for manufacturers, importers and distributors in Canada. A Council order has been approved recently which will postpone implementation dates:

• The implementation deadline for manufacturers and importers was put off by a year to June 1^st 2018.

• The implementation deadline for distributors was put off by 3 months to Sep 1^st 2018

• The deadline set for employers of federal, provincial and territorial agencies responsible for occupational safety and health in the workplace remains unchanged at Dec 1^st 2018.

Suppliers can comply with either WHMIS 1988 or WHMIS 2015 before these deadlines.