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Section 1

Identification

Information Elements

  • Product Identifier
  • Other Means of Identification
  • Recommended Use and restrictions on use
  • Initial Supplier Identifier
  • Emergency Telephone Number, and any restrictions on the use of that number, if applicable

Most common non-compliances

  • The Canadian Transport Emergency Centre (CANUTEC) phone numbers are listed as the emergency telephone numbers.
  • Recommended use and restrictions on use are not disclosed.
  • Recommended use is not specific enough.
  • Data for the information element “Other means of identification” is not disclosed (such as the CAS numbers, synonyms, etc., for substances and short-form names, code names, etc., for mixtures).
  • The product identifier and the initial supplier identifier disclosed on the safety data sheet (SDS) and the label do not match.

Tips

  • Use and restrictions

    Information about the recommended use and the restrictions on use of the hazardous product must be disclosed and should not be vague.
    • General statements on recommended use are not acceptable. The recommended use of the product should be presented on the safety data sheet (SDS) as a brief description of what the product is used for or does. For example, “Product use: Flame retardant” is acceptable, while “Product use: Industrial use,” “Commercial use,” “Additive” or “Construction” are not acceptable.
    • The reason for the restriction on use should be disclosed.

  • Initial supplier identifier information

    A Canadian distributor that buys a hazardous product, relabels the hazardous product and then sells it is considered the initial supplier. Therefore, its name, address and telephone number must be disclosed on the SDS and label.
  • A Canadian importer that imports a hazardous product and resells it within Canada must disclose its own information as the initial supplier identifier, namely, its name, address and telephone number.
    • The contact information of the foreign-based supplier may be disclosed on the SDS and label as long as the Canadian importer’s information is also disclosed.
  • A Canadian importer that imports a hazardous product from a foreign supplier for use in its own workplace in Canada only is exempt from having its own information as the initial supplier identifier, as long as the name, address and telephone number of the foreign supplier are present on the SDS and label.

  • Emergency telephone number

    The Canadian Transport Emergency Centre (CANUTEC) telephone numbers must not be listed as emergency telephone number. The overall mandate of CANUTEC is to promote public safety in the transportation of dangerous goods by all modes, and CANUTEC cannot provide any information on the storage, use or handling of the product. If an alternate telephone number is available, it must be disclosed. If there is no telephone number available, the expression “Not available” or an indication to that effect must be disclosed.
  • The emergency telephone number does not have to be a 24/7 number. However, any restrictions on the use of that telephone number, if applicable, must be disclosed on the SDS.
  • Suppliers should also disclose, if applicable, a statement to contact the local poison control centre.
  • Non-Canadian telephone numbers should include the complete international dialling code.
  • If the language spoken at the emergency telephone number is neither English nor French, this should also be included on the SDS.