[Federal Register: January 8, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 5)] [Notices] [Page 1266-1267] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr08ja99-117] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF STATE Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs [Public Notice 2955] Public Meeting Regarding Government Activities on International Harmonization of Chemical Classification and Labeling Systems AGENCY: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), Department of State. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting regarding Government Activities on [[Page 1267]] International Harmonization of Chemical Classification and Labeling Systems. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This public meeting will provide an update on current activities related to international harmonization since the previous public meeting, conducted October 7, 1998. (See Department of State Public Notice 2896 on pages 51394-51395 of the Federal Register of September 25, 1998.) The meeting will also offer interested organizations and individuals the opportunity to provide information and views for consideration in the development of United States Government policy positions. For more complete information on the harmonization process, please refer to State Department Public Notice 2526, pages 15951-15957 of the Federal Register of April 3, 1997. The meeting will take place from 10 a.m. until noon on January 11, 1999, in Room N 3437 A, B&C, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Attendees should use the entrance at C and Third Streets NW. To facilitate entry, please have a picture ID available and/or a U.S. Government building pass if applicable. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to submit written comments or information, please contact Mary Frances Lowe, U.S. Department of State, OES/ENV, Room 4325, 2201 C Street NW, Washington DC 20520. Phone (202) 736-4660, fax (202) 647-5947. A public docket is also available for review (OSHA docket H-022H.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of State is announcing a public meeting of the interagency committee concerned with the international harmonization of chemical hazard classification and labeling systems (an effort often referred to as the ``globally harmonized system'' or GHS). The purpose of the meeting is to provide interested groups and individuals with an update on activities since the October 7, 1998, public meeting, a preview of upcoming international meetings, and an opportunity to submit additional information and comments for consideration in developing U.S. Government positions. Representatives of the following agencies participate in the interagency group: the Department of State, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Agriculture, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The Agenda of the public meeting will include: 1. Introduction 2. Reports on recent international meetings --UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, December 7-16, Geneva, Switzerland. Among the GHS-related topics discussed at this meeting were the status of classification criteria for physical hazards and a proposed institutional setting within the UN ECOSOC for the GHS. 3. Preparation for upcoming meetings --Second meeting of the Inter-Organization Program for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC)/International Labour Organization Working Group on Hazard Communication, January 26-27, 1999, Geneva Switzerland --Thirteenth Consultation of Coordinating Group for the Harmonization of Chemical Classification Systems, January 28-29, 1999, Geneva Switzerland. --Third meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Working Group on Classification Criteria for Mixtures, February 1-3, 1999, Paris, France. 4. Public Comments 5. Concluding Remarks Interested parties are invited to submit their comments as soon as possible for consideration in the development of U.S. positions and to present their views orally and/or in writing at the public meeting. Participants may address other topics relating to harmonization of chemical classification and labeling systems and are particularly invited to identify issues of concern to specific sectors that may be affected by the GHS. Participants who attended and participated in recent international sessions may also offer their observations on the results of the sessions. All written comments will be placed in the public docket (OSHA docket H-022H). The docket is open from 10 am until 4 pm, Monday through Friday, and is located at the Department of Labor, Room 2625, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC. (Telephone: 202-219-7894; Fax: 202-219-5046.) The public may also consult the docket to review previous Federal Register notices, comments received, Questions and Answers about the GHS, a response to comments on the April 3, 1997, Federal Register notice, and other relevant documents. Dated: December 29, 1998. Michael Metelits, Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. [FR Doc. 99-356 Filed 1-7-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710-09-M