Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF MAY 14, 2020
National Nursing Week 2020 is May 11-17. It always occurs from the Monday to the Sunday of Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12.
The theme this year is Nurses: A Voice to Lead — Nursing the World to Health. The theme was developed by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) to showcase how nurses are central to addressing a wide range of health challenges. ICN says the theme will help raise the profile of the profession and attract a new generation into the nursing family.
COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way we conduct our business, our work environment and our personal lives. What remains the same, is the need to learn and prepare for the future. With the help of our annual sponsors, RDC is proud to offer four enlightening (virtual) speaker sessions. The sessions are available to employees of member and affiliate companies at no charge.
The following is a status update on Transport Canada’s pilot project to test electronic shipping documents for the transportation of dangerous goods.
With the current COVID-19 pandemic, this pilot will play a vital role in testing alternative ways to support physical distancing and eliminating the exchange of physical documents in both daily operations and emergency response situations.
We are also looking to expand our communication network amongst first responders, companies and inspectors. If you would like to partner with us to help publish content about electronic shipping documents on social media or internal newsletters, please send an email to [email protected].
You may have noticed that Gazette publications are no longer following their historical publication dates which have been Gazette I every Saturday (Friday afternoon) and Gazette II every 2nd Wednesday. This is due to the COVID-19 response.
Some important modifications to the Interim policy for certain cleaning products used, handled or stored in workplaces in Canada (COVID-19), which has been updated as follows:
- Importers are required to provide sellers with a means to inform employers, at the time of sale, of the website where bilingual label information and bilingual Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or SDS text is posted.
- This could be made available through a sticker applied directly to the products, posters, or signage with take-away pamphlets at the point of sale or use.
- Effective immediately, for all new importers of these products through the interim policy must meet this requirement; importers who have previously submitted a form are to meet this requirement no later than June 8, 2020.
- Health Canada will lift the interim policy when the regular supply stabilizes.
It is expected that these updates will help further ensure that employers and workers have access to the necessary safety information for workplace cleaning products imported under this policy in both official languages before they use these products.
Forms and questions regarding this policy should continue to be sent to [email protected].
The Winter 2020 version of the Environmental Sustainability Indicators has been released.
Health Canada’s Food Directorate completed a premarket safety assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of sodium benzoate as a preservative used at a maximum level of 1,000 ppm in oyster flavoured sauce. As no safety concerns were raised through Health Canada’s assessment, the Department has enabled the use of sodium benzoate described in the information document by updating the List of Permitted Preservatives, effective May 5, 2020.
Following the declaration of a pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus) by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, and with the adoption of temporary measures put in place by provincial authorities, Transport Canada is issuing temporary certificates pursuant to subsection 31(2.1) of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992.
- Temporary certificate TU 0751.1: Testing and inspection requirements
- Temporary certificate TU 0752.1: Hand sanitizer
- Temporary certificate TU 0753.1: Canada Post Corporation authorization – Shipping hand sanitizer by air
- Temporary certificate TU 0754: Transporting hand sanitizer by air
All serious incidents and potentially serious incidents, including those related to COVID-19, must be reported to OHS.
During these unprecedented times, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) understands that protecting your business and your people are of the utmost importance. That is why WSPS is moving its annual Partners in Prevention Health and Safety conference online to help prepare you and your employees get back to work safely.
This guide is designed to offer the guidance that New Brunswick workplaces need to help get business back up and running safely considering the pandemic. It also includes a template operational plan for reopening a business.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for three chemical substances which are the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs).
Since January 1, 2020 there have been more than 940 60-day notices filed with the California Attorney General’s office for Proposition 65 violations. These notices were filed by 50 notifying parties and cover a significant breadth of products including foods, dietary supplements, kitchen appliances, tools and hardware, and a variety of other consumer products.
Please note that Japan has amended the export certificate for dairy products for human consumption. The changes are minor, however, Japan requires that shipments arriving on or after June 1, 2020 must be accompanied by the new certificate. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) might need to cancel and replace the certificates issued for products that have left Canada before the implementation of the new certificate and are going to arrive in Japan on or after June 1, 2020.
The CFIA will continue to issue the current certificate for shipments arriving before June 1, 2020.
The European Commission has granted authorisations (review period expiry dates in brackets) for:
- two uses of potassium dichromate (EC 231-906-6, CAS 7778-50-9) by Gentrochema BV (21 September 2024);
- three uses of sodium dichromate (EC 234-190-3, CAS 10588-01-9) by Gentrochema BV (21 September 2024 (for uses 1 and 2) and 14 April 2024 (for use 3));
- three uses of sodium dichromate (EC 234-190-3, CAS 10588-01-9) by Brenntag UK Ltd; Henkel AG & Co. KGaA and AD International BV (21 September 2024 (for uses 1 and 2) and 14 April 2024 (for use 3));
- two uses of dichromium tris(chromate) (EC 246-356-2, CAS 24613-89-6) by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA and Henkel Global Supply Chain B.V. (22 January 2026);
- two uses of potassium hydroxyoctaoxo-dizincate dichromate (EC 234-329-8, CAS 11103-86-9) by PPG Industries (UK) Ltd., Finalin GmbH, PPG Europe B.V., PPG Coatings SA, Boeing Distribution, Inc. (22 January 2026);
- two uses of strontium chromate (EC 232-142-6, CAS 7789-06-2) by Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes B.V; Habich GmbH; Henkel Global Supply Chain B.V.; Indestructible Paint Ltd.; Finalin GmbH; Mapaero; PPG Europe B.V.; PPG Industries (UK) Ltd., PPG Coatings SA and Boeing Distribution, Inc. (22 January 2026).
Safety Share
All workplaces can take infection prevention measures to protect workers.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety – Use these free tip sheets as guidance while operating during a pandemic, including the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Each document offers health and safety tips and good practices, for both employers and workers, specific to each industry or sector. Organizations and businesses can adopt this guidance to protect their workers and prevent the spread of infections. The tip sheets cover a range of occupations and industries from construction and trucking to healthcare and daycares. All tip sheets are available in English and French.
Comments are closed