Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for PMRA Registered Products In Canada – What you should know!
By: Kirsten Alcock, Manager of Product Safety, email
Many of our clients these days are requesting that we prepare Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for products that are registered or in the process of being registered with the PMRA. Although SDSs are not technically a requirement under the Hazardous Products Act, they are still very much requested.
As you can see from the below picture, Schedule 1 advises that SDSs are not required BUT did you know that the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) published a document regarding Pest Control Products (PCPs) and SDSs?
Pesticide Safety Data Sheets are not required under the Hazardous Products Regulations, however, it is good practice to provide these to the workers that are using these products to ensure their health and safety. The PMRA published a document in English and Canadian French back in 2018 with guidance on what they would like to see on an SDS when one is created. It is a very extensive document that includes information on the background, SDS guidance to registrants, and appendices containing information for each and every section of a SDS. Dell Tech has taken the guidance provided and we can ensure that the SDSs we create follow the guidelines given by the PMRA.
As SDSs are not a part of the PCP requirements, they are not subject to pre-market approval. The guidance document advises that there must be a reference to the PCP label as the main label to follow for safety, use, and handling. You will see on the SDSs Dell Tech provides that the PMRA number (if provided to Dell Tech) is listed right in section 1 as requested by the guidance. Although not required, the PMRA encourages companies who sell pesticides to adopt and follow the guidance document should they create SDSs.
Should you wish to obtain a copy of the document, Health Canada advises that one must complete a form on their website to acquire a Portable Document Format (PDF) copy of the “PMRA Guidance for Preparing Safety Data Sheets According to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals for Pest Control Products in Canada” publication. I would suggest obtaining a copy in English and Canadian French to ensure you are using the phrases they use in both of our official languages.
If you are not comfortable creating a safety data sheet for Canada that follows these guidelines, we can create one for you in English and Canadian French.
How can Dell Tech help?
- Dell Tech can help you with the registration of your Pesticide Product
- Dell Tech can create the SDS in both official languages: Canadian English and Canadian French
- Dell Tech will create the SDS in compliance with the Guidance Document provided by the PMRA
Contact:
Dell Tech
Kirsten Alcock, B.Sc. (Hons)
Manager, Product Safety Group
519-858-5074
kirsten@delltech.com
Dell Tech has provided professional, confidential consulting services to the chemical specialty
industry in Canada, the USA, Europe, and Asia for the last 40 years.
Contact us today for more information.
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