COVID-19 cleaning products for use, handling or storage in workplaces

On this page

• What we are doing
• Cleaning products covered under the interim policy
• How to import under this interim policy

What we are doing

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented situation where supply may not meet the demand for cleaning products regulated under the following Canadian legislation:

• Hazardous Products Act (HPA)
• Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR)
• Hazardous Materials Information Review Act (HMIRA), if applicable

These products are intended for use, handling or storage in a workplace in Canada.

Cleaning products covered under the interim policy

We're facilitating the sale and importation of certain cleaning products regulated under the HPA/HPR and, as applicable, HMIRA coming from the U.S. into Canada which do not fully meet all of our labelling and information requirements below:

• the label and/or the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) may only be in one official language
• the necessary pictograms are on the label, but are not exactly presented as outlined in the regulations
• hazard and precautionary information is on the SDS and label, but does not exactly match the wording outlined in the regulations
• information concerning confidential business information (CBI) is not disclosed on the label and/or SDS

However, the interim policy does not change the enforcement priority for all other regulatory requirements.

The interim policy covers the following cleaning products regulated under the HPA/HPR and, as applicable, HMIRA:

• cleaning products with primary purpose to clean, bleach or scour surfaces
  • products used only to polish, protect or improve the appearance of surfaces are excluded
• laundry and dishwashing products used mainly to clean
  • fabric softeners or other products are excluded

How to import under this interim policy

Before importing under this interim policy, importers are required to fill out a form and email it to hc.whmis-simdut.sc@canada.ca.

Importers are also required to:

• make available on their website an SDS or SDS text and label text with the safety information required under the HPA/HPR, in both official languages
  • the SDS and label text, including pictograms as appropriate, must be available to employers and workers upon request
  • mock-up labels are not necessary
• if possible, distribute any products that already have bilingual or French-only labels to regions of Canada where the population mainly speaks and understands French
• provide Health Canada with a bilingual SDS or SDS text and label text, including pictograms as appropriate, containing all of the safety information required under the HPA/HPR
• provide Health Canada with the CBI information if this information is not disclosed on the label and/or SDS due to trade secrets
• provide sellers with a means to inform employers, at the time of sale, of the website where bilingual label information and bilingual SDS or SDS text is posted
  • this could be made available through a sticker applied directly to the products, posters, or signage with take-away pamphlets at the point of sale or use
  • effective immediately, all new importers of these products through the interim policy must meet this requirement; importers who have previously submitted a form are to meet this requirement no later than June 8, 2020

This interim policy also covers a secondary seller selling a cleaning product regulated under the HPA/HPR and, as applicable, HMIRA coming from the U.S. that doesn't fully meet Canadian regulations. The seller must obtain proof that Health Canada has received the applicable form for that particular cleaning product. Posting of the product on the list of forms received for cleaning products for use, handling, or storage in workplaces is sufficient proof.

Note: Health Canada will lift the interim policy when the regular supply stabilizes.

Remember to continue to keep records on the source and the destination of your products.

Workers and employers using, handling or storing a cleaning product should refer to the list of forms received for cleaning products for use, handling, or storage in workplaces. Employers using products found on the list are also encouraged to refer to this information and to communicate it to their employees. Employers and workers should also contact their occupational health and safety regulatory agency for any information about workplace safety.

Related links

• Labelling of hand sanitizers, disinfectants, soaps and cleaning products in the context of the COVID-19 response
• Joint Occupational Safety and Health Administration/Health Canada Guidance on Regulatory Processes for Hazardous Products in the Workplace
• Protection of Confidential Business Information (CBI) for Workplace Hazardous Products
• Contacts for WHMIS
• Technical Guidance on the Requirements of the Hazardous Products Act (HPA) and the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) - WHMIS 2015 Supplier Requirements
• Hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers (COVID-19)
• Household cleaning products, hand soaps and body soaps (COVID-19)