Health Canada Announces One Year Delay for WHMIS 2015 Implementation

Written By: Atanu Das on Tuesday, May 23, 2017

On February 11, 2015, the Government of Canada published the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) in the Canada Gazette, Part II. These regulations, combined with amendments to the Hazardous Products Act (HPA), modified the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) 1988 to incorporate the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling for Chemicals (GHS) for workplace chemicals in Canada. This modified WHMIS is referred to as WHMIS 2015. 

The transition to WHMIS 2015 included a three-stage transition period that is synchronized nationally across federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions.  However, Orders in Council have recently been approved to defer two of the milestones for transition.  These Orders will be published in the Canada Gazette Part II shortly.  In the interim, suppliers should be aware of the new transition deadlines.

Manufacturers and importers now have until June 1, 2018 to comply with the HPR. The deadline of June 1, 2017 has been delayed by one year to June 1, 2018.

The second deadline of June 1, 2018 has been delayed by three months to September 1, 2018.

The target deadline set for employers by federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) agencies responsible for occupational safety and health (OSH) in the workplace remains unchanged at December 1, 2018. For information on employer WHMIS requirements set out by FPT OSH agencies, contact the agency in your jurisdiction. Specific WHMIS requirements for any jurisdiction can also be found at WHMIS.org.

These Orders extend the periods during which suppliers can comply with either the Controlled Products Regulations (WHMIS 1988) or the HPR (WHMIS 2015). 

The Orders and a Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS) will be published in the Canada Gazette Part II shortly. An email containing a link to this publication will follow as soon as it becomes available. For assistance with Canada SDS requirements let us know