Suppliers: one federal law
Manufacturers, importers and distributors follow the Hazardous Products Act and Regulations, administered by Health Canada, wherever they sell in Canada.
WHMIS rules by province and territory.
Suppliers follow one federal law. Employers follow the workplace rules of the province or territory they operate in, and those rules differ, especially on keeping safety data sheets current and on training.
Checked against the official regulations on 8 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Employers: provincial rules
Getting SDSs, keeping them available, workplace labels and worker training are set by each province and territory, or by the federal Labour Program for federally regulated workplaces.
The 3-year check
In 8 of 14 jurisdictions, an employer whose supplier SDS is three years old must try to get an up-to-date one. Elsewhere, updates are triggered by significant new information.
At a glance
Two rules that change from one jurisdiction to the next.
Select a jurisdiction for the details, the section numbers and a link to the official text.
"3-year SDS check": the employer must try to obtain an up-to-date supplier SDS once it is about three years old (British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and federally regulated workplaces). Every jurisdiction also requires SDSs to be updated when significant new information becomes available.
In detail
Jurisdiction by jurisdiction.
BC
British Columbia
- Regulator
- WorkSafeBC
- Keeping SDSs current
- When a supplier SDS is 3 years old, obtain an up-to-date one from the supplier (s. 5.14(2)). Exceptions include written confirmation from the supplier that nothing has changed.
- Training review
- The WHMIS program is reviewed at least annually (s. 5.5).
- Also note
- SDSs readily available to exposed workers and the joint committee or representative (s. 5.16).
AB
Alberta
- Keeping SDSs current
- No 3-year rule. The SDS received at purchase must be the most current version, and must be updated within 90 days of significant new data from the supplier (s. 406).
- Training review
- Training content is set out in s. 397; the Code does not set how often training is repeated.
- Also note
- A product may be stored for up to 120 days without an SDS while the employer actively seeks one (s. 404(2)).
SK
Saskatchewan
- Keeping SDSs current
- If a hazardous product used in the workplace is 3 years old, obtain an up-to-date supplier SDS if possible (s. 22-11(2)).
- Training review
- Education and training programs are reviewed at least annually (s. 22-4(6)).
- Also note
- SDSs readily available to exposed workers, the committee and the representative (s. 22-13).
MB
Manitoba
- Regulator
- Workplace Safety and Health Branch
- Keeping SDSs current
- No 3-year rule. When significant new data is received, the SDS is replaced or supplemented as soon as reasonably practicable (s. 35.16).
- Training review
- Education and training are reviewed and revised at least annually (s. 35.4).
- Also note
- SDSs must be kept for at least 30 years after they are received or prepared (s. 35.15(2)).
ON
Ontario
- Workplace rules
- R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 860 (WHMIS) and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, ss. 37 to 42
- Keeping SDSs current
- No 3-year rule. The employer updates the most recent supplier SDS as soon as practicable when significant new data becomes available (Reg. 860, s. 17(2)).
- Training review
- Training and instruction are reviewed at least once a year (OHSA s. 42(3)).
- Also note
- If a supplier SDS cannot be obtained after reasonable efforts, the employer must notify the Ministry in writing (OHSA s. 37(4)). Summary based on the ministry's guide.
QC
Quebec
- Regulator
- CNESST
- Keeping SDSs current
- No 3-year rule. After learning of significant new data, the employer informs workers and the committee and updates the SDS within 90 days (s. 23); workplace labels within 180 days (s. 11).
- Training review
- The training and information program is updated annually, or sooner when the situation requires (s. 31).
- Also note
- The French text of the regulation is the authoritative version.
NB
New Brunswick
- Regulator
- WorkSafeNB
- Workplace rules
- WHMIS Regulation, N.B. Reg. 2016-6
- Keeping SDSs current
- No 3-year rule. If an up-to-date supplier SDS cannot be obtained, the employer adds significant new data to the most recent one (s. 14(3)).
- Training review
- Education and training are reviewed at least annually (s. 7(4)).
- Also note
- SDSs readily available to exposed employees and the committee or representative (s. 16).
NS
Nova Scotia
- Workplace rules
- Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, Part 3 (WHMIS)
- Keeping SDSs current
- If a supplier SDS is 3 or more years old, obtain an up-to-date one if possible (s. 3.12(2)). Exceptions include the supplier advising that nothing has changed.
- Training review
- Education and training are reviewed at least annually (s. 3.5(5)).
- Also note
- SDSs readily available to exposed employees and the committee or representative (s. 3.14).
PE
Prince Edward Island
- Regulator
- Workers Compensation Board of PEI
- Workplace rules
- WHMIS Regulations (EC455/17)
- Keeping SDSs current
- No 3-year rule. The employer updates the supplier SDS with significant new data as soon as reasonably practicable (s. 13(3)).
- Training review
- Education and training are reviewed at least annually (s. 5(5)).
- Also note
- SDSs readily available to each worker who may be exposed and to the committee or representative (s. 16).
NL
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Workplace rules
- WHMIS Regulations, 2018 (NLR 34/18)
- Keeping SDSs current
- If a supplier SDS is 3 or more years old, obtain an up-to-date one where possible (s. 13(2)). Exceptions include written confirmation from the supplier that it has not changed.
- Training review
- Education and training programs are reviewed at least annually (s. 6(4)).
- Also note
- SDSs readily available to exposed workers and the committee or representative (s. 15).
YT
Yukon
- Workplace rules
- WHMIS Regulations, O.I.C. 2015/151
- Keeping SDSs current
- If a hazardous product used in the workplace is three years old, obtain an up-to-date supplier SDS if possible (s. 12(2)).
- Training review
- Education and training are reviewed at least annually (s. 5(4)).
- Also note
- SDSs readily available to exposed workers and the committee or representative (s. 14).
NT
Northwest Territories
- Keeping SDSs current
- If a supplier SDS is more than three years old, obtain an up-to-date one if possible (s. 333(2)).
- Training review
- WHMIS training is reviewed at least once a year (s. 325(6)).
- Also note
- SDSs readily available to exposed workers and the committee or representative (s. 335).
NU
Nunavut
- Keeping SDSs current
- If a supplier SDS is more than three years old, obtain an up-to-date one if possible (s. 333(2)).
- Training review
- WHMIS training is reviewed at least once a year (s. 325(6)).
- Also note
- Same WHMIS provisions as the Northwest Territories, under the same commission.
FED
Federally regulated workplaces
- Workplace rules
- Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Part X
- Keeping SDSs current
- If the supplier SDS is three years old or more, obtain a current one if feasible (s. 10.32(2)).
- Training review
- The education and training program is reviewed at least once a year (s. 10.14(3)).
- Also note
- Applies to federally regulated employers such as banks, airlines, railways, telecoms and interprovincial trucking. SDSs kept in English and French (s. 10.34).
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