CCCR Symbols versus GHS Pictograms – Are they different?
By: Kirsten Alcock, Manager of Product Safety, email
When determining the label for your product in Canada, you first need to determine where you want to sell it. Do you want to sell your product to the workplace? Are you looking to sell to consumers? Are you making any claims that would require a registration?
Unlike some other countries, Canada has different classification requirements for the workplace and consumer realms for non-registered products. If you are looking to sell to workplace and not making any claims that would require a registration, your product must comply with the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR). You will require WHMIS symbols/pictograms if your product is considered hazardous for a variety of different criteria which you can find in the regulations. If you are selling to the consumer realm in Canada and considered hazardous, you must comply with the CCCR and use their symbols (Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, 2001).
When the new HPR regulations came into effect in Canada in 2015, we moved over to a different set of symbol requirements than what we were using under the older Controlled Products Regulations (CPR). These are now referred to as Symbols and Pictograms. These symbols and pictograms can be found in Schedule 3 of our current regulations.
If you are selling your product to the consumer realm and your product falls under the CCCR, 2001, you must use the following symbols on your product label if applicable.
It is very important that you are using the appropriate symbol on your labels. Very often I will walk into a store and find products on the shelves with WHMIS – Workplace labeling and no Consumer Labeling. In some cases I will find European Labeling on shelves within Canada. This is non-compliant and could lead to a recall of your product from the shelves in Canada. This is very expensive, time consuming and ruins the reputation of your company as everything is online. Anyone can look up your company and when you are recalled in Canada, it is available to the public.
Don’t put yourself in this predicament. Ensure you are using the appropriate symbols for the appropriate realm: WHMIS or CCCR.
If you have any questions regarding WHMIS or CCCR symbol/pictogram requirements, do not hesitate to contact us. We can help you determine the appropriate symbol not only on your SDS but also on your labels. Contact us for further information on how we can help you meet your label compliance.
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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