From: Public Radio International

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is in the middle of a lengthy review of the chemical triclosan — a product that’s in countless consumer products like toothpaste and soap. There’s a movement to try and get the product more stringently regulated in the United States — or banned outright. And they might have just gotten a boost from Canada.

Triclosan has been around for 40 years. For nearly all that time U.S. officials have been investigating the chemical’s safety and effectiveness. Now the Canadian government has just declared the antibacterial agent an environmental toxin, and has proposed regulations to curtail its use in Canada.

The FDA review is supposed to be completed by winter 2012.

For more information see the above link.

From the Canada Gazette:

An order deleting 11 substances from part I of the Non-domestic Substances List under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act has been published by Canada’s Minister of the Environment in the Canada Gazette.

The order also removes aceto(2-carboxyphenyl)(2-methoxyphenyl)oxotriazaalkene from part II of the list.

We will keep you informed on any further changes to the Non-domestic Substances List.

From Health Canada:

This recall involves “Quick Fix Tire Inflator” instant flat tire sealer and inflator. The product is sold in a 340-g aerosol container and can be identified by the UPC 790920127610.

An inspection by Health Canada has determined that the recalled product does not meet the hazard symbols and bilingual labelling requirements for consumer chemical products under Canadian law.

This lack of labelling information could lead to improper handling and use of the product and to serious injury.

Neither Les Pièces d’auto Transit Inc. nor Health Canada have received any reports of incidents or injuries related to the use of this product in Canada.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled product and dispose of it as per Municipal Hazardous Waste Guidelines.

For more information, consumers may contact Les Pièces d’auto Transit Inc. at1 800-263-8916.

From the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety:

Top 5 questions about GHS answered

After years of anticipation, the implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is one step closer to reality in the United States (U.S.). This change has implications for Canadians and Americans alike, and raises many questions. Here are the top five questions – and the answers – that CCOHS is asked about the GHS.

1. What are Canada’s timelines for implementing the GHS in WHMIS?

This is the most common GHS question that CCOHS is asked and, unfortunately, the answer is that the implementation timelines for Canada are still unknown. Federal WHMIS regulators are working on finalizing their proposed changes to WHMIS to implement the GHS. Health Canada is expected to post detailed information on their website about how WHMIS may change, for public consultation. In addition to public consultation, Health Canada has identified these remaining steps:

• an economic analysis
• revision of the federal legislation, including the Hazardous Products Act and the Controlled Product Regulations
• revision of WHMIS regulations by the provincial and territorial governments

With Canadian laws often taking one or two years to be updated, CCOHS estimates that there won’t be new WHMIS laws until 2013 or later. Then it is expected that there will be a “transition period” for suppliers and employers to switch from old-to-new WHMIS requirements (possibly a two or three year transition period).

2. Are GHS safety data sheets (SDSs) accepted in Canada today?

Yes, they are, with a few important considerations.

For some time now the WHMIS program has had a policy to accept a number of different MSDS formats, including the 16-section GHS SDS format, in place of the 9-heading format required by the Controlled Products Regulations. However, it is very important to note that the MSDS/SDS must contain all of the WHMIS required content as specified in the Controlled Products Regulations (Schedule I, Column III). It is also important to note that the GHS hazard classification may not always be the same as the WHMIS classification and there are differences in terminology between the two systems. Therefore, care should to be taken to communicate messages that are consistent with the WHMIS hazard communication system.

3. Are GHS labels accepted in Canada today?

No, they are not. The National Office of WHMIS does not have a policy to accept GHS labels. There are some important differences in the label requirements of the two systems. For example, the WHMIS regulations require:

• the use of applicable WHMIS symbols – the GHS requires pictograms, but the pictograms are not identical to the WHMIS symbols;
• the use of a hatched border – the GHS does not require a specific label border; and
• reference to the material safety data sheet – there is no similar requirement in the GHS.

Note: It remains to be seen if the hatched border and reference to the SDS will be retained after the GHS is implemented in Canada.

4. I am a Canadian manufacturer shipping hazardous products to the U.S. How will changes to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard affect me?

This is a good question. As an exporter of hazardous products to the U.S., you will have to comply with the new “GHS” requirements of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard when they become law. Keep in mind that a multi-year transition period is expected, so you will have time to reclassify your products and prepare OSHA GHS compliant SDSs and labels. However, depending on factors such the number of raw materials/ingredients used in your products, and the number of SDSs and labels that you must produce or update, you may want to get started sooner rather than later.

On the other hand, if you are a U.S. company shipping hazardous products into Canada, you will have to continue complying with WHMIS laws until the GHS is implemented in Canada.

5. Should I be training on the GHS now?

The primary goal of training is that all target audiences know how to recognize and interpret label and/or SDS information, and take appropriate precautions. Until the new laws come into force, you should continue to train on your existing hazard communication system (Canadian WHMIS or OSHA HazCom).

If you are an American supplier, employer, or worker, you should check the OSHA website for current information regarding implementation of the GHS in the U.S., and the new Hazard Communication Standard requirements. Training resources will likely be published very soon.

If you are a Canadian supplier, employer, or worker, the CCOHS “WHMIS after GHS” courses will help increase your awareness about potential changes. However, company-wide training is not a good idea until the possible requirements for GHS implementation into WHMIS are published.

We will keep you informed with regard to any Canadian GHS updates.

From Health Canada:

From Health Canada:

This recall involves “Aleene’s” Super Gels (skin-bonding adhesives) distributed by Michaels Stores Inc. The following three super gels are included in this recall:

Aleene’s Super Gel Brush-On Adhesive is identifiable by the SKU number 188998 and the UPC 017754291288;

Aleene’s Super Gel Instant Adhesive (Platinum Bond) is identifiable by the SKU number 083356 and the UPC 017754159748;

Aleene’s Super Gel Pen Adhesive is identifiable by the SKU number 188996 and the UPC 017754291301.

These products do not meet Canada’s legal requirements for labelling and child resistant containers for quick skin-bonding adhesives. These adhesives are a type of glue capable of bonding skin with skin instantly.

Neither Michaels Stores Inc. nor Health Canada has received any reports of incidents or injuries to Canadians related to the use of these products.

Consumers should keep the product out of reach of children and return the product to any Michaels Store for a full refund.

For more information contact Michaels Stores Inc. at 1-800-642-4235

From Environment Canada:

Canada’s Environment Minister, the Honourable Peter Kent, today announced that the Government of Canada has decided siloxane D5 is not harmful to the environment.

“This decision follows a thorough analysis of the Siloxane D5 Board of Review’s report, all existing available scientific information, and on-going international regulatory activities,” said Minister Kent. “It underlines our commitment to reach fact-based conclusions to protect Canadians’ health and the environment.”

Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) is an odorless, colourless liquid found in a number of personal care products, including deodorants, antiperspirants, cosmetics, shampoos, and body lotions. It is used in the production of silicone polymers and may also be used as a dry-cleaning solvent and in industrial cleaning.

Minister Kent received the Siloxane D5 Board of Review’s report last fall. The Minister convened the Board of Review in August 2010 with the mandate to consider information in the original Government of Canada 2009 siloxane D5 screening assessment, as well as new scientific information subsequently available. Based on the information before it, the Board concluded that siloxane D5 is not harmful to the environment.

Siloxane D5 is one of the chemicals identified under Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan. The Plan takes immediate action to regulate chemicals harmful to human health or the environment and aims to make Canada a world leader in assessing and regulating chemicals used in thousands of industrial and consumer products.

For more information contact the Office of the Minister of the Environment @ 819-997-1441

From:  Chemical Watch

The US and Canada are working together in an effort to ensure consistent implementation of the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of classification and labelling of chemicals. Speaking at GlobalChem Maureen Ruskin, director of the Office of Chemical Hazards at the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), said that the US and Canada had formed a Regulatory Coordination Council and GHS implementation had been included in the current work plan. “The US and Canada will be working together to ensure what we do on GHS is aligned,” she stated.

While Canada is expected to be at least a year behind GHS implementation compared to the US, Ms Ruskin said that once it was implemented in both countries, the Council would work to ensure alignment, particularly on technical issues and the interpretation of data to ensure companies in the US and Canada classified chemicals in the same way.

Click on the link above for more information, including four actions the Council has agreed upon to coordinate GHS implementation in the two countries.

From Health Canada:

This recall involves Blaze Jelled Chafing Fuel by Metro Ontario Inc. The product contains methyl alcohol and is used to generate instant clean fire for cooking in various environments.

The recalled jelled chafing fuel was sold in small metal containers as single units and as a two-pack, and can be identified by the UPC 794666781002 on the two-pack and theUPC 094922637024 on the single unit.

The recalled products do not meet the labelling requirements for Consumer Chemical Products under Canadian Law.

The lack of labelling information, including appropriate warnings, may lead to serious injury or property damage.

Health Canada has not received any reports of incidents or injuries to Canadians related to the use of these products.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled products and dispose of them as per Municipal Hazardous Waste Guidelines.

For more information contact Metro Ontario Inc. Customer Care at1-877-763-7374.

From: Health Canada

Health Canada is advising Canadians not to buy an unregistered, highly toxic pesticide product being imported from China and sold in various retail outlets as “insecticide chalk.” The product is sold under names such as “Miraculous Insecticide Chalk,” “Insecticide Chalk,” and “Cockroach Chalk.”

Insecticide chalk is not registered for use in Canada. Samples tested contain deltamethrin, a pesticide that can cause serious health effects when used inappropriately. Children are especially at risk from insecticide chalk because they can easily mistake the product for blackboard or sidewalk chalk and play with it or put it in their mouths.

Overexposure to some chemicals found in insecticidal chalk can cause vomiting, stomach pains, convulsions, tremors and loss of consciousness. Serious allergic reactions are also possible.

Click on the above link for more information on this warning.