- The amendments came into force on 15 December 2022 and the transition period ended on 14 December 2025.
- New physical hazard class: chemicals under pressure. Non-flammable aerosols now have their own category.
- Flammable gases category 1 is split into subcategories, absorbing the old pyrophoric gases class.
- Every hazardous ingredient above its cut-off must now be disclosed on the SDS.
- Health Canada focuses on compliance promotion until 19 July 2027, then moves to risk-based enforcement.
In December 2022, Health Canada amended the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) to align WHMIS with the 7th revision, and parts of the 8th revision, of the UN Globally Harmonized System (GHS). Suppliers had a three-year transition. That period ended on 14 December 2025, so every SDS and label for a hazardous product sold in Canada must now meet the amended rules.
- WHMIS 2015 in forceThe Hazardous Products Regulations adopt the GHS
- WHMIS 1988 phased outThe transition to WHMIS 2015 is complete
- Amendments in forceAligned with GHS Revision 7 and parts of Revision 8
- Transition endsEvery SDS and label must meet the amended rules
- Risk-based enforcementHealth Canada ends its compliance promotion focus
What changed in classification
- Chemicals under pressure is a new physical hazard class, for liquids or solids pressurised with a gas in a container such as a pressure receptacle.
- Aerosols: the class formerly called "flammable aerosols" is now "aerosols", with a new category 3 for non-flammable aerosols.
- Flammable gases: category 1 is split into subcategories, and the separate pyrophoric gases class has been folded into flammable gases.
If you sell aerosols, gas cartridges or pressurised products, these changes are the most likely to alter your classification, pictograms and hazard statements.
What changed on the SDS
- Ingredient disclosure: every ingredient classified in a health hazard class and present above its concentration cut-off must be listed in section 3, whether or not it contributes to the classification of the mixture.
- Section 9: the list of physical and chemical properties was revised.
- Combustible dust: the hazard statement may now read "May form explosible dust-air mixture" as an alternative.
- Confidential business information: suppliers withholding a concentration may use a narrower range inside the prescribed range, and the exemption is clarified for both SDSs and labels.
How the rules are being enforced
Health Canada has said that until 19 July 2027 it will focus on compliance promotion with suppliers, and that from that date compliance and enforcement will follow its standard risk-based approach. It can still act before then where warranted. In other words, the grace period for the rules themselves is over; what remains is a period in which Health Canada prefers to help suppliers fix their documents rather than penalise them.
What to do now
- List every hazardous product you sell or import into Canada, with the date of its SDS.
- Flag anything dated before 15 December 2022 that has not been reviewed since; these are the most likely to fail the amended rules.
- Re-check classifications for aerosols, gases and pressurised products first.
- Check section 3 for ingredients that must now be disclosed.
- Confirm that both the English and French versions were updated, not just one.
Imported products are a common gap: a supplier's SDS written for another market may never have been updated for the amended HPR. See can you use a US SDS in Canada?
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Checked against the official sources above on 7 October 2026. Rules change: for your own products, ask for a spot-check.
