Reference Manual for the WHMIS Requirements of the Hazardous Products Act and Controlled Products Regulations

CPR Section 17 - Laboratory Supply House

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Laboratory Supply House

17. The sale or importation of a controlled product is exempt from the application of paragraph 13(b) or 14(b) of the Act if

1. the controlled product
   
   1. originates from a laboratory supply house,
   2. is intended for use in a laboratory, and
   3. is packaged in a container in a quantity of less than 10 kilograms; and
      
2. the container in which the controlled product is packaged has applied to it a label that discloses the following information in respect of the controlled product:
   1. the product identifier,
   2. where a material safety data sheet is available, a statement to that effect,
   3. risk phrases that are appropriate to the controlled product or to the classes, divisions or subdivisions into which the controlled product falls,
   4. precautionary measures to be followed when handling, using or being exposed to the controlled product, and
   5. where appropriate, first aid measures to be taken in case of exposure to the controlled product.

Interpretation / Discussion of Section 17

Persons working in laboratories are typically better informed about the hazards posed by products in their workplace than persons working outside of the laboratory setting. This section allows for reduced information requirements on labels of products destined for use in laboratories.

Suppliers of controlled products that meet the origin, destination and size requirements stated in paragraph 17(a) may utilize this exemption.

The labels on these products do not require the depiction of hazard symbols nor disclosure of a supplier identifier. Through the addition of subsection 20(2), (Amendment No. 1 to the CPR), the label information prescribed in this section for products meeting the stated criteria need not be within the WHMIS "hash" border depicted in Schedule III to the CPR. The labels will not require a statement making reference to the availability of the MSDS only if all of the MSDS information is disclosed on the label (i.e., if the supplier has utilized the exemption in section 10 of the CPR). Therefore, subparagraph 17(b)(ii) should not be taken to imply that an MSDS is not required for these controlled products.

"Intended for used in a laboratory" includes non-traditional lab settings such as field testing (with or without a temporary enclosure), production line sampling and testing and steam/heat plant sampling and testing; {ref.: PIS No.5}