REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF JUNE 3, 2020

• Health Canada publishes list of companies authorized to use technical grades of ethanol

  Health Canada has updated their COVID-19 website that now includes a listing of Canadian hand sanitizers authorized to use technical-grade ethanol. The manufacturers must follow very specific labelling and reporting instructions. As of May 28th, there are 34 approved Canadian manufacturers.

• Notification of UNSCEGHS 39th session postponement 

Health Canada’s Workplace Hazardous Materials Bureau has informed us that the 39th session of the Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), initially scheduled from July 8-10, 2020, has been postponed due to the risks related to the spread of the COVID-19 virus and is now scheduled for December 9-11, 2020. Proposed revisions to Annex 3 of the Globally Harmonized System will be discussed at the upcoming Regulatory Affairs Committee meeting being held on Tuesday June 16th.

• Canada to start mandatory paperless export reporting 

The Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS) is a free, web-based, self-service portal for submitting electronic declarations and Summary Reporting Program monthly reports. It is replacing the Canadian Automated Export Declaration (CAED) system, which Statistics Canada is retiring on September 30, 2020. If you have never submitted electronic declarations or have not used the CAED or SRP methods in over 2 years, you must register for the new CERS Portal in order to begin using it. Apply to register by completing and submitting form BSF831.

• Alberta extends job protected leave 

There are two unpaid job-protected leaves that employees impacted by COVID-19 can access: the COVID-19 Leave and the Extended Personal and Family Responsibility Leave.

• British Columbia announces short-term extensions of occupational first aid certificates 

As British Columbia begins to reopen its doors, access to first aid training will increase across the province. We expect first aid attendants with expired certificates will seek recertification as soon as training is available.

• Ontario extending infectious disease emergency leave for workers 

The government announced that it has enacted a new regulatory amendment that will put non-unionized employees on Infectious Disease Emergency Leave during the COVID-19 outbreak any time their hours of work are temporarily reduced by their employer due to COVID-19. This will ensure businesses aren’t forced to terminate employees after their ESA temporary layoff periods have expired.

• Ontario’s Workplace Safety & Prevention Services training now virtual 

The landscape of how we learn is evolving. We, like many businesses across the world, have had to rethink our overall strategy due to COVID-19. To continue to serve you, and ensure that every Ontarian has access to the health and safety training they require, WSPS is making our traditional in-class training available virtually.

• Integrated Risk Management System protocol for Methylmercury 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Program is announcing a 45-day public comment period associated with the Systematic Review Protocol for the Methylmercury IRIS Assessment.

• European authorities working together to promote safe use of chemicals 

In mid-May 2020, ECHA published its second report under the Integrated Regulatory Strategy which tells of the progress made in identifying and managing substances of concern under REACH and CLP.

• Global forum on cost effective management systems for industrial and consumer chemicals 

The Global Forum on Environment will discuss the challenges posed by chemicals, provide knowledge on effective and sustainable policies for the sound management of chemicals. Together, leading actors in the field of chemicals management will promote effective engagement, collaboration and action on the sound management of chemicals and waste. This includes regulators and policy makers in charge of chemical safety in OECD member and partner countries as well as relevant stakeholders from International Governmental Organisations, private industry organisations and companies, civil society, philanthropies and more. The forum will take place November 3rd and 4th in Paris.

Safety Share

• Back to work sector specific guidelines 

Resources are available for to help employers and workers better understand how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• Hurricane season starts today, are you prepared? 

Each employer is responsible for the safety and health of its workers and for providing a safe and healthful workplace for its workers. Employers are required to protect workers from the anticipated hazards associated with the response and recovery operations that workers are likely to conduct.

• Podcast available for maintaining health while working remotely 

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has released a podcast. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has challenged employers to equip their workers with the tools they need in order to do their jobs safely at home, and it’s important that this focus includes both mental and physical health. Learn more about what employers and workers can do.