WHMIS Now Aligned with GHS 7 & 8: How Quantum SDS Keeps You Compliant
As of December 2022, Canada has updated WHMIS to align with the 7th edition—and parts of the 8th edition—of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).
This means new requirements for hazard classification, SDS formatting, and ingredient disclosure. Companies must update their Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) before the transition deadline in December 2025.
If you create or supply hazardous products in Canada, your SDSs must now reflect these changes. Quantum SDS makes it easy—whether you need expert authoring services or self-serve SDS software that’s always up to date.
What Changed: Key WHMIS Updates from GHS 7 and 8
Physical Hazards – What’s New
- Flammable Gases split into:
- Category 1A: Pyrophoric/unstable gases (more severe)
- Category 1B: Less severe flammable gases
- Aerosols updated to include Category 3 (non-flammable) → Previously labeled "Flammable Aerosols"
- New Hazard Class: Chemicals Under Pressure → With new pictograms and hazard statements
- Expanded Criteria for:
- Oxidizing Solids
- Combustible Dust
Health Hazards – Key Revisions
- Updated definitions and thresholds for:
- Acute Toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Mutagenicity
- Respiratory Sensitization
- Skin Corrosion/Irritation, and more
- Better clarity in testing and classification guidelines
SDS Formatting Changes You Must Make
Section 3 – Composition
Now requires all hazardous ingredients above cut-off values, even if they don’t contribute to classification.
Section 9 – Physical & Chemical Properties
New field: Particle Characteristics
Removed: Evaporation Rate
Renamed fields:
- “Appearance” → “Physical State” and “Colour”
- “Vapour Density” → “Relative Vapour Density”
- “Viscosity” → “Kinematic Viscosity”
These changes are mandatory by December 2025.
Health Canada Extends Compliance Promotion to November 2027
Canada's three-year transition period for the amended Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) ended on December 14, 2025, so all hazardous products sold in Canada are technically required to meet the updated WHMIS/GHS 7 & 8 requirements outlined above.
However, Health Canada has confirmed it will prioritize compliance promotion — education and support rather than enforcement — with regulated parties until the applicable U.S. transition period ends. That U.S. deadline, set by OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard for hazardous mixtures, was extended from July 19, 2027, to November 19, 2027, following a four-month extension OSHA announced in January 2026. Health Canada has aligned its own compliance promotion window to match.
This is good news for companies managing SDSs and labels across both Canada and the U.S. — it means more runway to align documentation with both regulatory frameworks at once, rather than working against two separate deadlines. That said, this is not a compliance exemption: Health Canada retains the authority to compel compliance with the HPR at any time, if warranted.
Quantum SDS: GHS 7/8 Ready Software & Authoring Services
SDS Authoring Software
- Automatically applies GHS 7/8 classification rules
- Supports multi-region SDS generation (OSHA, WHMIS, REACH)
- Built-in automation to reduce authoring time by up to 80%
Professional SDS Authoring Services
- Fully compliant with updated WHMIS regulations
- Ideal for companies without internal regulatory staff
- Fast turnaround, fully customized for your products and markets
Don't Fall Behind on Full Compliance
Canada's 3-year transition period ended in December 2025, meaning your SDSs must already reflect the new WHMIS standards aligned with GHS 7 and GHS 8. While Health Canada is focused on compliance promotion rather than active enforcement until November 2027, that window exists to help cross-border companies align their documentation — not as an extension of the original deadline itself.
Let Quantum SDS take the stress out of compliance.
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Whether you're updating 10 SDSs or 10,000, we'll help you get and stay compliant — fast.
