Regulatory Cooperation Council and workplace hazardous products

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The Canada-United States (U.S.) Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) provides regulators from Canada and the U.S. with the opportunity to work together to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden on stakeholders, while continuing to protect the health and safety of people and the environment.

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Collaborating on workplace hazardous products

Under the RCC, Canada collaborates with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (U.S. OSHA) to ensure that the Canadian and U.S. requirements for hazard classification and communication for workplace hazardous products remain aligned to the greatest extent possible with each other and with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) as it is updated. Where possible, the objective is to have 1 label and 1 safety data sheet (SDS) that would be acceptable in both countries, while respecting the legislative and regulatory requirements of each country and without reducing the existing level of safety and protection to workers.

This collaboration is formalized through memoranda of understanding and a published Regulatory Partnership Statement:

RCC Working Group for Workplace Chemicals

This regulatory partnership is implemented and managed by senior officials in both Health Canada and U.S. OSHA, and operationalized by the Working Group for Workplace Chemicals, established in 2011.

The Working Group for Workplace Chemicals is comprised of technical experts and senior managers from both Health Canada and U.S. OSHA. It meets regularly to discuss progress made in implementing work plans, common challenges or priorities, new initiatives, and the development of new annual work plans.

Work planning

RCC initiatives related to workplace hazardous products and their desired outcomes and activities are elaborated in work plans:

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