September 2025 issue: Workplace Hazardous Products Program newsletter
On this page
- Summary of UN GHS Sub-Committee of Experts 48th session
- Fall 2025 multi-stakeholder workshop: Date announced and registration now open
- New subscription service coming soon
- End of transition period for the amendments to the Hazardous Products Regulations
- Future newsletter content
- Important WHMIS websites
Summary of UN GHS Sub-Committee of Experts 48th session
The 48th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS, collectively UNSCEGHS) took place in Geneva on July 7-9, 2025.
Overall, the recommendations that were put forward by the UNSCEGHS align with Canada's positions and interests, as follows:
- The UNSCEGHS adopted amendments to provide clarification on the use of the bridging principles in line with chapter 1.3 that will bring consistency and harmonize the interpretation of the bridging principles in chapters 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4. Consequential amendments in additional chapters are intended to be addressed before the end of this biennium.
- The proposal to remove the assignment of P303+P361+P353 to flammable liquids was not adopted, as some considered that a more in-depth analysis of the impact of this decision was needed to discard unintended consequences and keep the same level of protection for workers and consumers.
- Various additional updates included:
- China initiated a discussion on the definition of “article” in the GHS. As a first step, the expert from China invited interested experts to share existing definitions of articles by competent authorities and they would consider how to proceed.
- The terms of reference and programme of work related to the digitalization of hazard information for the Practical Labelling Issues Informal Working Group was approved.
- The Germ Cell Mutagenicity Informal Working Group provided a status update that the group aims to complete the review of chapter 3.5 during the biennium 2025-2026, and submit a snapshot of the revised chapter for the December session. Feedback was sought from the Sub-Committee on the proposed change from “interact with the genetic material of germ cells” to “reach the gonads”.
- The Potential Hazard Issues Informal Working Group’s status update focused on pilot studies conducted by the United States (U.S.) and European Union, and relayed that additional analysis on adverse effects on human health and the environment would be conducted to inform discussions on if and how the GHS could be amended.
- Canada and the U.S. provided a status update, as co-chairs, on the work of the informal correspondence group to explore the development of a global list of chemicals classified in accordance with the GHS.
Further details can be found in the Report of the Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals on its forty-eighth session.
Fall 2025 multi-stakeholder workshop: Date announced and registration now open
The 2025 Workplace Hazardous Products Program (WHPP) multi-stakeholder workshop will take place virtually on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 12:30-3:30pm, Eastern Time.
Please register by November 12 using the following link if you wish to attend:
This workshop is an excellent opportunity to engage with the full Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) community and we encourage industry, labour, other levels of government, and any other interested group to attend.
Topics to be discussed include:
- Hazardous Products Regulations in the context of the GHS and regulatory cooperation with the U.S.
- Compliance and enforcement
The agenda will be shared with all registrants prior to the workshop. Email us at whmis-simdut@hc-sc.gc.ca if you have any questions.
New subscription service coming soon
We are pleased to announce that we will soon be transitioning to a modernized subscription service platform for WHPP news, formerly known as “WHMIS News”.
WHPP news is an email list managed by Health Canada to distribute updates and information related to WHMIS, from Health Canada’s federal perspective. This includes regulatory amendments, updates to service standards and fees, publication of hazardous substance assessments, and news related to the GHS.
The new platform will collect some additional information from subscribers, which will help us gain a better understanding of our stakeholder community.
All current subscribers will need to re-subscribe using the new platform to continue receiving WHPP news. Existing subscriptions will not be automatically transferred.
We will notify stakeholders by email when the new subscription platform is launched and re-subscription can begin.
End of transition period for the amendments to the Hazardous Products Regulations
The 3-year transition period for updating product classifications, safety data sheets (SDSs), and labels to meet the amended Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) ends on December 14, 2025.
Starting December 15, 2025, all hazardous products must have hazard classifications, SDSs, and labels (if applicable) that fully comply with the amended HPR.
In addition, any SDSs or labels submitted with claims for exemption under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act on or after December 15, 2025, must comply with the amended HPR. If these documents are prioritized for in-depth compliance review, they will be assessed according to the amended HPR.
Claimants who submitted SDSs and labels based on the former HPR prior to the end of the transition period may be required, at Health Canada's request, to provide a revised SDS and/or label based on the amended HPR following the end of the transition period.
Health Canada acknowledges stakeholder concerns regarding the alignment of implementation timelines with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), particularly with respect to SDSs and labels for mixtures. Health Canada understands the importance of regulatory consistency for Canadian companies and recognizes the efficiencies of harmonized requirements and timing.
Health Canada remains committed to the objectives of the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council, including mutual alignment of GHS implementation in both countries.
Health Canada therefore plans to take the following approach to compliance with, and enforcement of, the amended HPR requirements:
- Until July 19, 2027, (the U.S. implementation deadline for mixtures), Health Canada will focus on compliance promotion with regulated parties; and,
- From July 19, 2027, onwards, compliance and enforcement will follow a risk-based approach as per standard Departmental and program guidance.
Throughout this period, Health Canada may take measures to induce or compel compliance with the HPR, if warranted.
You can read more about this and other efforts that Health Canada is taking to reduce regulatory red tape and support robust economic growth in Canada in the Report on Red Tape Reduction, published on September 8, 2025.
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.