March 2026 issue: Workplace Hazardous Products Program newsletter
On this page
- Highlight: Publication of hazardous substance assessments
- Adjusted fees for claims for exemption under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act
- Update to the online application form for claims for exemption under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act
- Virtual informal meeting of UN GHS Sub-Committee of Experts
- Update on red tape reduction commitments under the Hazardous Products Regulations
- Recent engagement
- Future newsletter content
- Important WHMIS websites
Highlight: Publication of hazardous substance assessments
New hazardous substance assessments (HSAs) are now available:
- Benzyl alcohol
- Citric acid
- Hydrochloric acid (and hydrogen chloride)
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Sodium hypochlorite
HSAs are educational resources that support the creation of compliant safety data sheets and labels of hazardous products by providing information on how Health Canada would classify a given substance for the physical and health hazard classes of Parts 7 and 8, respectively, of the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR).
Each HSA includes the information used to support the classification of the hazardous substance of focus, and references the publicly available data on which it is based.
Stakeholders may comment on a published HSA, or nominate substances for HSA development (with rationale), at any time by sending an email to whmis-simdut@hc-sc.gc.ca.
Adjusted fees for claims for exemption under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act
The annual adjustment to the fees for claims for exemption under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act (HMIRA) comes into effect on April 1, 2026.
Fees are subject to an annual adjustment in accordance with the Service Fees Act. On April 1 of each calendar year, fees are adjusted using the April All-items Consumer Price Index for Canada, as published by Statistics Canada for the previous fiscal year.
The summary of the annual adjusted fees table has been updated.
Update to the online application form for claims for exemption under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act
The online application form for claims for exemption under the HMIRA, and the accompanying user guide, have been updated.
For each product for which a claim for exemption is filed, the online application form now requires the claimant to specify whether the product is a "substance" or a "mixture", as defined by the Hazardous Products Act (HPA). If "substance" is selected, the form will also require the claimant to indicate whether it is the substance or a stabilizing additive, stabilizing solvent or impurity.
Since the HPR have different ingredient disclosure requirements for products classified as substances compared to mixtures, collecting this information at the outset will help streamline the compliance review process for safety data sheets (SDSs).
Virtual informal meeting of UN GHS Sub-Committee of Experts
Following the postponement of the 49th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS, collectively UNSCEGHS) from December 2025 to July 2026, the UNSCEGHS met virtually for an informal meeting on January 19, 2026, with no decisions taken.
Agenda items presented for information and discussion included:
- germ cell mutagenicity criteria under development (see informal documents INF.3, 49th session (PDF) and INF.17, 49th session (PDF))
- persistence and mobility potential hazard issue (see informal document INF.14, 49th session (PDF))
- non-animal methods working group introductory text for GHS Chapter 1.3 (see informal document INF.18, 49th session (PDF))
The dialogue was beneficial to advance the program of work in the absence of a formal December UNSCEGHS session.
Update on red tape reduction commitments under the Hazardous Products Regulations
On January 15, 2026, the United States (U.S.) Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced a 4-month extension to the transition periods for the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). As a result, the new U.S. compliance deadline for hazardous mixtures has changed from July 19, 2027, to November 19, 2027.
In Canada, the 3-year transition period for updating product classifications, SDSs, and labels to comply with the amended HPR ended on December 14, 2025. All hazardous products in Canada are required to be fully compliant with the amended HPR.
Health Canada recognizes the significance of this extension, especially for stakeholders managing cross-border supply chains. As part of the Government of Canada's red tape reduction efforts, Health Canada announced and remains committed to focusing on compliance promotion of the HPR with regulated parties until the end of the applicable U.S. transition period, which is now extended to November 19, 2027. Please note that Health Canada retains the authority to take measures to induce or compel compliance at any time with the HPR, if warranted.
Health Canada remains committed to the objectives of the Canada–U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council, including aligned implementation of the GHS in both countries. The Department will continue to support Canadian businesses in meeting their regulatory obligations.
Recent engagement
Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association 2026 Annual Government Interface
The Director General of the Consumer and Hazardous Product Safety Directorate attended the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association Government Interface as a guest speaker on February 13, 2026.
The following Program topics were discussed:
- Overview of legislative authorities
- Status of the Program's regulatory cooperation with the U.S., including recent regulatory amendments and transition periods
- HPA requirements to prepare and maintain a true copy of a label and safety data sheet
- Program operations under the HMIRA
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.