June 2025 issue: Workplace Hazardous Products Program newsletter
On this page
- Updates to the Guidance on the WHMIS supplier requirements
- Fall 2025 multi-stakeholder workshop: Call-out for speakers and topics
- Is it time to refile your claim for exemption?
- Future newsletter content
- Important WHMIS websites
Updates to the Guidance on the WHMIS supplier requirements
The Guidance on the WHMIS supplier requirements has been updated to include comparisons of the requirements under the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) with requirements under the United States' (U.S.) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). These comparisons are integrated throughout the guidance and are found alongside the relevant regulatory requirements.
Health Canada calls differences between the HPR and HCS requirements "variances" when they result in different classification, labeling, safety data sheets, or other information needs for hazardous products in Canada compared to the U.S. Variances can arise due to the need to preserve the current level of protection for workers or as a result of differences between the respective legislative frameworks in Canada and the U.S.
The summary table outlining the key variances that was published in October 2024 remains available on Canada.ca.
Fall 2025 multi-stakeholder workshop: Call-out for speakers and topics
The third annual Workplace Hazardous Products Program multi-stakeholder workshop is planned for fall 2025. The intent of this forum is to facilitate engagement and dialogue across the WHMIS community to improve participation and the exchange of knowledge. Summaries of previous workshops are available:
The workshop will take place virtually over 1 to 2 half days, depending on the proposed agenda items.
We therefore invite all interested stakeholder groups to propose discussion items that their organizations could lead as part of the upcoming workshop.
This invitation is open to industry associations, labour organizations, federal, provincial and territorial partners, and any other group with an interest in Health Canada decision-making regarding hazard communication of workplace chemical products.
To inform productive and effective sessions, please send proposed agenda items to whmis-simdut@hc-sc-gc.ca by September 5, 2025, including any relevant contact information for the individual(s) that would lead the proposed discussion topic.
More details, including a save-the-date invitation, will be shared at a later date.
Is it time to refile your claim for exemption?
A reminder that if you wish to continue protecting your confidential business information under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act beyond the 3-year exemption period, you must refile for another exemption.
You are responsible for monitoring your exemption's expiry date and ensuring that you submit a refiled claim before it expires.
To find specific details about your exemption, including its expiry date, please refer to the List of claims and exemptions under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act.
Learn more about exemptions for confidential business information for workplace hazardous products.
Future newsletter content
Is there a topic that you would like us to include in a future newsletter? We would love to hear from you. Email us at whmis-simdut@hc-sc.gc.ca.
Important WHMIS websites
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