Label Requirements Differ from Country to Country – Be in the know.
By: Kirsten Alcock, Manager of Product Safety, email
The requirements to sell your products are very different around the world. Although it would be ideal to have one label or one SDS for the world, those in the regulatory industry know that this is just not possible. Each country has its own set of requirements that must be met and if you don’t meet them, there are a variety of things that could happen such as a RECALL, a FINE, JAILTIME, etc.
BE IN THE KNOW BEFORE YOU EXPORT/IMPORT INTO CANADA.
Today I’m going to discuss label requirements in Canada and specifically workplace non-registered products: WHMIS.
The requirements for your workplace label (non-registered products), can be found in the Hazardous Products Regulations – Part 3.
Here you will find what Health Canada refers to as ‘information elements’ that they expect to see on your workplace labels.
These include but are not limited to:
- Product identifier, Initial Supplier, General Precautionary statements, Prevention Precautionary statements, Response Precautionary statements, Storage precautionary statements, Disposal Precautionary statements
- In addition to these, there may be a need for the supplemental label statement depending on your classification. This refers to the amount of unknown acute toxicity for dermal/inhalation/oral if your product as a whole falls under the acute toxicity category and information is not known.
- If a pictogram is required for the hazard class you have chosen, you must also include this. Please note that there are specific rules for symbols that you may not be aware of. Be sure to check the label section for these requirements.
- Does your product need a signal word?
- Canadian French must also be available
If you are not sure if you can use your label here, please send us a copy of your label and we can provide a quick check for you and your team.
HOW DELL TECH CAN HELP:
- Create Canadian compliant labels and SDS for your products
- Advise under what regulation your product will fall under in Canada.
- Advise on chemical inventory requirements which includes indicating which chemicals are/are not listed on the DSL/NDSL before you import your product. If they are not listed, we can help with your New Substance Notification Requirements.
- Help with the testing requirements for certain regulations such as Flammability testing that is unique to Canada.
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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