Committees and Working Groups

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Implementation of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals in Canada is now beginning. Technical consultations are being conducted through multi-stakeholder sectoral working groups and a GHS General Issues Committee.

This section contains meeting notes and workplan for various committees and working groups.

On this page:

• Consumer Chemicals
• General Issues Committee
• Pest Control Products
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
• Transportation of Dangerous Goods

Consumer Chemicals

The Consumer Chemical Sector Working Group (CCSWG) serves as a forum for open discussion and advice on matters concerning the implementation of the GHS as it relates to consumer chemical products.

Meeting Notes

• First Meeting - February 10, 2004
• Meeting Summary - April 07, 2004
• Meeting Summary - June 15, 2004
• Meeting Summary - October 26, 2004
• Meeting Summary - January 18, 2005
• Meeting Summary - March 30-31, 2005
• Meeting Summary - June 28, 2005
• Meeting Summary - April 20, 2006
• Meeting Summary - February 4-5th, 2008

Documents

• Discussion Guide For the GHS Chronic Hazard Classes: respiratory or skin sensitization, germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity and specific target organ toxicity (TOT)- repeated exposure and cut-offs for mixtures - February 4 and 5 2008
• Thought starters for the transition period for existing products: Moving from the CCCR, 2001 to the GHS criteria integrated CCCR, 200? - February 4 and 5 2008

General Issues Committee

The purpose of the General Issues Committee is to ensure harmonization to the greatest extent possible between the sectors in Canada and harmonization to the greatest extent possible between the NAFTA countries and other trading partners by:

• serve as a forum for open discussion and advice on matters concerning the implementation of the GHS in Canada
• ensuring Committee members are aware of all GHS implementation activities by receiving periodic reports on the work of the sectoral working groups.

Meeting Notes

• Meeting Summary - June 22, 2006
• Meeting Summary - March 8, 2005
• Meeting Summary - June 8, 2004

Documents

• Implementation of GHS - Canadian Activity - June 2006
• Implementation of GHS - International Activity - June 2006
• Implementation of GHS - US / NAFTA Activity - June 2006
• Comparison of Sector Interim Recommendations or Preferred Options (23 February 2006) --- a summary of the results of the deliberations by the sectors affected by the implementation of the GHS. The technical consultations are not completed and the results are subject to change.
• Ad Hoc Expert Working Group: Chronic Hazard--- Canadian Implementation of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) - 4 April, 2005
• Memorandum - Issues to be brought to General Issues Committee from WHMIS Stakeholders - March 7, 2005
• Ad Hoc Expert Working Group: Chronic Hazard--- Canadian Implementation of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) - 23 February, 2005
• Ad Hoc Expert Working Group: Environmental Hazard Canadian Implementation of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) - November 4, 2004
• Ad Hoc Expert WG: Environmental Hazard Canadian Implementation of GHS September 9, 2004
• Terms of Reference for the General Issues Committee for Canadian Implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) - June 18, 2004

Pest Control Products

The Pest Control Products Sector Working Group (PSWG) serves as a forum for open discussion and advice on matters concerning the implementation of the GHS as it relates to pest control products.

Meeting Notes

• The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) - First Meeting of the GHS Pesticides Sectoral Working Group, February 17, 2004
• Meeting of the GHS Pest Control Products Sector Working Group (PSWG) : Acute Toxicity, May 27th, 2004
• Meeting of the GHS Pest Control Products Sector Working Group (PSWG): Flammable Hazards - Friday, May 28, 2004
• Meeting of the GHS Pest Control Products Sector Working Group (PSWG): Irritation Hazard Classes - June 28th, 2004
• Meeting of the GHS Pest Control Products Sector Working Group (PSWG): Other Physical Hazard Classes - June 29th, 2004

Documents

• Discussion Guide: Acute Toxicity Hazard Class - PSWG, May 27, 2004
• Appendix 1: Impact Analysis Document - May 17, 2004
• Discussion Guide: Flammable Hazard Classes - PSWG, May 28, 2004
• Discussion Guide: Skin Corrosion/Irritation, Eye Damage/Irritation & Skin Sensitization Hazard Classes - PSWG, June 28, 2004
• Appendix 1: Impact Analysis Document - June 28, 2004
• Discussion Guide: Physical Hazard Classes - PSWG, June 29, 2004

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

The WHMIS Working Group (WWG) serves as the forum for open discussion and advice on matters concerning the implementation of the GHS as it relates to workplace chemicals. The WWG is a working group of the WHMIS Current Issues Committee (CIC).

Transportation of Dangerous Goods

In Canada, the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations follows the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations, which, for the most part, are already harmonized with the GHS.

Transport Canada is working according to the timeline set out by the United Nations Sub-committee of Experts on Transport of Dangerous Goods.