Update and Latest Developments on the GHS

GHS Review Conference for Southeast Asia

21-23 May 2013

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Dr Peter DawsonEPA New Zealand

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Technical developments

Development of the GHS to Rev.4

Updates from Rev.4 to forthcoming Rev.5

Current and on-going work

Implementation update

Country/region updates

Outline

Technical developments

4Development of the GHS

GHS Sub-committee has 2-yearly work programmes (biennium)

GHS First edition: 2003

First version of GHS endorsed Dec 2002, published July 2003

GHS First revised edition: 2005

Aspiration hazard, developmental toxicity – ‘effects on or via lactation’, target organ toxicity single exposure - respiratory tract irritation/narcotic effects

GHS Second revised edition: 2007

Guidance on application of building block approach

Codification of hazard and precautionary statements

5Development of the GHS

GHS Third revised edition: 2009

Miscellaneous changes to clarify some classification criteria

Sub-categorization of respiratory and skin sensitizers

Subcategory 1A – strong sensitizers

Subcategory 1B – other sensitizers

Same label elements apply to Category 1 and to subcategories 1A and 1B

Different concentration cut-off values for mixture classification apply to subcategories 1A and 1B

Hazardous to the aquatic environment

Revision of classification criteria for long-term aquatic hazard depending on whether adequate chronic toxicity data available and whether or not rapidly degradable

Different approach to classifying mixtures

6Development of the GHS

GHS Third revised edition: 2009

New environmental hazard class

Hazardous to the ozone layer

Substances listed in Annexes to Montreal Protocol

Mixtures containing ≥ 0.1% of those substances

Introduces label elements for ODP substances

Labelling

New combined hazard statements for health hazards

Guidance on labelling of small packages

7Development of the GHS

GHS Fourth revised edition: 2011

Chapter 2.2 - Inclusion of ‘chemically unstable gases’ as a subset within flammable gases

Additional hazard statements

Chapter 2.3 – Aerosols - Extended to cover non-flammable aerosols – Cat. 3

Hazard statement – Pressurised container: May burst if heated

Aerosols not included under Chapter 2.5 Gases under pressure

Annex 3 – Precautionary statements revised to simplify and rationalise

8Development of the GHS

Amendments coming in 5th Revised Edition GHS 2013

Oxidising solids – new classification criteria based on new test method alongside existing criteria/test method

Skin corrosion/irritation – substantial editorial revision to Chapter 3.2, some additional guidance

Serious eye damage/eye irritation – similar editorial revision

Annexes 1 and 2 combined into new Annex 1: Classification and Labelling Summary Tables

Removes duplication from previous annexes

Includes the codes for the hazard statements ‘Hxxx’

More useful and easy to follow

Annex 3, section 2: Codification of precautionary statements

Revision to simplify and rationalise including removal of duplication

9Development of the GHS

Amendments coming in 5th Revised Edition GHS 2013

Annex 3, section 3: consequential amendments to the matrix presenting the precautionary statements and other label elements for each classification category

Annex 3, new section 4: provides identification codes for the GHS pictograms – GHS01 – GHS09

Similar approach to codes for hazard and precautionary statements

Matches what is in EU CLP regulation

Annex 4: Guidance on Safety Data Sheets

Revisions to aid clarity and provide additional guidance

Includes reference to dust explosion hazards in Hazard Identification section

10Current biennium & beyond

Work of Sub-Committee in 2013-2014 biennium and on-going

Nanomaterials

Applicability of the GHS to manufactured nanomaterials, taking into account other international work (OECD)

Dust explosion hazards

Workplace hazard – guidance in SDS

Aspiration hazardViscosity criterion for classification of mixtures

Classification of aerosol/mist products

Classification of desensitised explosives

11Current biennium & beyond

Work of Sub-Committee Working Groups in 2013-2014 biennium and on-going

Evaluation of classification criteria and flammability categories for certain refrigerants

Water activated toxicity (toxic gas released when wet)

Suitability of test method for development of classification criteria

Corrosivity criteria

Further alignment of corrosivity criteria in Class 8 of the Transport Model Regulations with the GHS criteria

Classification of polymerizing substances

12Current biennium & beyond

Work of Sub-Committee Working Groups in 2013-2014 biennium and on-going

Hazard communication issues:

Revision of section 9 (physical & chemical props) of SDS guidance

Improvements of Annexes 1, 2 and 3 on label elements

Precautionary statements – rationalize, improve usability and eliminate redundancies

Labelling of small packages – development of guidance and examples

13Current biennium & beyond

Work of Sub-Committee Working Groups in 2013-2014 biennium and on-going

Implementation issues

Facilitate the coordinated implementation of the GHS in countries and monitor the status of implementation of the GHS

Development of examples illustrating application of classification criteria and any related hazard communication issues – feeds into UNITAR training materials

Cooperate with other bodies or international organizations responsible for the administration of international agreements and conventions dealing with the management of chemicals so as to give effect to the GHS through such instruments eg Basel, Rotterdam Conventions, SAICM

Assessing the possible development of a list of chemicals classified in accordance with the GHS

14Current biennium & beyond

Work of Sub-Committee Working Groups in 2013-2014 biennium and on-going

Possible development of a global list of GHS classified chemicals

Principles to guide development

Process must be clear, transparent and follow principles of GHS

All hazard classes and categories must be included – priority setting, proceed in stepwise fashion

Only substances (chemicals) included, not mixtures – initially prioritised substances

Data sets must be referenced with the classifications, data derived using scientifically sound test methods validated according to international procedures

Global list of chemical classifications would be non-binding, countries will have the option to make the list binding if they adopt it through their legislative and/or regulatory process

Implementation update

16Implementation Status (update)

European Union

Implemented 20 January 2009 (Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation – CLP) Regulation (EC) No 1272/ 2008

Based on 2nd revised edition of GHS, some GHS categories not adopted

Chemicals must comply with c&l by 1 Dec 2010, Mixtures (products) must comply by 1 June 2015

Amended to bring into line with 3rd revised edition of GHS in April 2011

Procedures underway to align with 4th revised edition in 2013

CLP regulation (Annex VI) includes list of GHS classified chemicals – available online

17Implementation Status (update)

New Zealand

Implemented July 2001 (for new substances) and applicable to all (new and existing substances) since July 2006

Implemented by regulations under Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996

Implementation based on draft GHS (pre first edition)

Intention is to update to latest version of GHS, but timing is currently not determined

Published lists of GHS classified substances, available online

18Implementation Status (update)

Australia

Following sectoral Building Block Approach

Workplace sector – adopted through Model Work Health and Safety legislation – closely follows EU, adopts GHS 3rd edition

Implementation started 1 January 2012, over 5 years

2 years for chemicals, additional 3 years for mixtures

Supported by codes of practice on GHS labelling and on safety data sheets

Environmental hazards included for guidance only – not mandatory

Timelines for adoption in other sectors not yet established

19Implementation Status (update)

USA

Following sectoral Building Block Approach

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) – workplace sector

Revised Hazard Communication Standard published 26 March 2012

Adopts GHS 3rd revised edition

Effective 25 May 2012, mandatory from 1 June 2015

Adoption similar to in Australia, but does not include environmental hazards

Timelines for adoption in other sectors not yet established

20Implementation Status (update)

Canada

Following sectoral Building Block Approach

Committed to implement in workplace sector by 1 June 2015

Canada/US technical alignment of GHS implementation under Regulatory Coordination Council

Aim – US and Canada companies classify chemicals the same

Thank you!