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Global Harmonization of Hazard Classification and Labeling Systems
The United States and many other countries throughout
the world have developed a Globally Harmonized System for the Classification
and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The GHS is the culmination of more than a
decade of work. After ten years of technical work and negotiation, a United
Nations Economic and Social Council Subcommittee adopted the Globally
Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling ("GHS") and recommended that
it be disseminated throughout the world.��By promoting common, consistent criteria for classifying chemicals and
developing compatible labeling and safety data sheets, the Globally Harmonized
System is intended to enhance public health and environmental protection, as
well as reduce barriers to trade. Countries lacking systems for hazard classification and labeling are to
adopt the GHS as the fundamental basis for national policies for the sound
management of chemicals; countries that already have systems will align them
with GHS. There were many individuals involved, from a multitude of countries,
international organizations, and stakeholder organizations. Their work spanned
a wide range of expertise, from toxicology to fire protection, and ultimately
required extensive goodwill and the willingness to compromise, in order to
achieve this system. The purpose of the GHS is to promote common, consistent
criteria for classifying chemicals according to their health, physical and
environmental hazards, and to encourage the use of compatible hazard labels,
material safety data sheets for workers, and other hazard communication
information based on the resulting classifications. The recently adopted GHS document is available on the Internet at:
http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/officialtext.html.
While criteria for classifying and labeling dangerous goods have been internationally harmonized through the
United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods for purposes of transportation,
harmonized requirements have not been established for purposes of environmental, worker or consumer safety
regulations. Furthermore, a number of countries currently operate their own systems for classification and
labeling, and companies must comply with differing requirements depending on where they do business. A
harmonized system for all regulatory purposes will lead to greater regulatory consistency among countries and
thereby promote safer transportation, handling and use of chemicals. Harmonized criteria, symbols and
warnings will promote improved understanding of hazards and thus help to protect workers, consumers, and
other potentially exposed populations. A more uniform, "harmonized" system will enhance safety, improve the
level of compliance and reduce costs for companies involved in developing, manufacturing, distributing, and
transporting chemicals both internationally and domestically since it is envisioned that international and domestic
regulations will be harmonized on the basis of the GHS in the future. Other GHS goals are to reduce animal
testing now needed for compliance with divergent national systems, and to conserve scientific resources.
The goal of establishing "a globally harmonized classification and compatible labeling system, including material
safety data sheets and easily understandable symbols by the year 2000." was set out in the report of the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 (3-13 June 1992, Earth Summit,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). This goal was later endorsed by both the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety
(IFCS) and the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) which
coordinates the actions of WHO, ILO, UNEP, FAO, UNIDO, UNITAR and the OECD aimed at
implementing Chapter 19. In its adopted Agenda 21, more particularly in Chapter 19 regarding the
environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals, UNCED identified harmonization of classification and
labeling of chemicals as being one of six action programs, and has recommended that "...the International
Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) should be the focal point for international cooperation on
environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals".
The Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD), which includes most industrialized nations
as members, coordinated the development of health and environmental hazard classification criteria. The United Nations
Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN COE), developed
criteria for substances with physical hazards including explosives, flammable
substances and reactive substances. The ILO served as the Secretariat for
overall coordination of the harmonization effort and focused specifically on
hazard communication activities. Each of these international organizations
involved affected industries and other non-governmental organizations in their
deliberations. Other participants included the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), the International Maritime Organization, the International
Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations Institute for Training and
Research (UNITAR), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
GHS hazard classification criteria were adopted by consensus for physical hazards and key health and
environmental classes, such as acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, and
developmental toxicity. For each of these hazard classes, standardized label elements -- including symbols, signal
words and hazard statements -- have been developed and agreed on, along with a
standard format and approach to how GHS information appears on safety data
sheets. The GHS document includes guidance on other issues relevant to implementation of the system, including
product identifiers, confidential business information, and precedence of
hazards.
The GHS is a voluntary system and
does not impose binding treaty obligations on countries. However, to the extent that countries adopt
the GHS into national regulatory requirements, it will be binding on the regulated
community. The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is
working with a number of agencies (including ILO and OECD) and governments to
help developing countries implement GHS. UNITAR has pilot implementation projects in South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Senegal, and Zambia. This Capacity Building partnership for GHS Implementation was announced at WSSD in August
2002 and seeks additional participants. Further information is available at the
UNITAR website at
http://www.unitar.org/cwm, or by contacting Jonathan Krueger
or Craig Boljkovac at 41-22-917-84-71. EST officers working with countries that could benefit from GHS may wish to inform UNITAR of interested parties, as well as potential sponsors. An implementation objective of January 1, 2008 has been established.
Within the United States, key
federal agencies with responsibility for regulatory and international affairs
have formed an interagency committee coordinated by the Department of State.
Besides the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration other agencies which participate in the effort include the
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Department of Commerce, Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Office of the U.S. Trade Representative,
Department of Agriculture, and National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences. The interagency committee and individual agencies have also solicited
the participation of key private sector groups, companies and trade
associations, worker representatives, health and safety professionals, and
environmental and public interest groups.
With respect to the elements of the GHS which have been incorporated within the U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR;49 CFR Parts 100-180), PHMSA adopted of several elements of the GHS in an rulemaking HM-115F. These elements include the aspects of the GHS that directly affect the transport sector such as changes to the hazard classification criteria for toxic materials and flammable liquids. Changes to regulations concerning environmentally hazardous substances will be made under a separate rulemaking, as the relevant criteria adopted by the GHS Sub-Committee will need to be considered by the EPA.
The UN Sub-Committee of Experts
on the GHS, created under the auspices of ECOSOC, is the permanent international
body charged with maintaining, updating, and promoting implementation of the
GHS. It reports to ECOSOC through the joint Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.
A number of informative web sites have been established to provide the public and industry with information relative to the GHS. These include:
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For information concerning the US GHS interagency committee's efforts in harmonizing health and
environmental criteria under the leadership of the OECD
click here.
This site facilitates participation and input by key private sector groups, companies and trade associations, worker
environmental, health and safety professionals, and public interest groups in the GHS work which is being
coordinated by the US Department of State. The site includes Q&As, a calendar of OECD Advisory
Group activities, schedules for commenting on draft proposals and a listing of agency points of contact.
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The Inter-organization Programme for the Sound Management of
Chemicals (IOMC) was established in 1995 to serve as a mechanism for
coordinating efforts of intergovernmental organizations in the assessment and
management of chemicals. The IOMC is designed to be a cooperative undertaking
among six intergovernmental organizations; UNEP, WHO, ILO, FAO, OECD and UNIDO.
The IOMC publishes a Calendar of Events to inform governments,
intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations on forthcoming
events of the Participating Organizations in the area of chemical safety
related to the programmes and work of Chapter 19, Agenda 21.
Click here For more
information on the IOMC's activities relative to the GHS and to reach each of
the six participating organizations of the IOMC
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The International Labour Organization, Occupational Safety and
Health Branch has a web site which provides information on the background,
basis, areas of harmonization, working documents and links to other sites.
Click
here to link to the ILO GHS site.
The ILO Working Group on Hazard Communication recently developed a document entitled
"Proposed Harmonization of Chemical Hazard Communication in the Globally
Harmonized System." This Document is the third and final stage of the ILO
Working Group's consideration of harmonisation of chemical hazard
communication. The document is provided in three parts covering 1) General
principles; 2) Labeling procedures; and 3) Material Safety Data Sheet Options.
In November 2001 the Governing Body of the ILO will meet to consider the
outcome of the work. The document presents the basis for the new system and
highlights the final issues to be resolved by the Working Group at its meeting
in May 2001. Thereafter the system developed here will pass to the management
of a new committee of experts within the United Nations Committee of Experts on
the Tramsport of Dangerous Goods and Globally Harmonised System of
Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.
Click here to view "Proposed Harmonization of Chemical Hazard Communication in the Globally
Harmonized System." (pdf - )
- By resolution
1999/65 of 26 October 1999 the United Nations Economic and Social Council
decided to enlarge the mandate of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of
Dangerous Goods by reconfiguring it into a Committee of experts on the
Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of
Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, and by creating, besides the Sub-Committee
of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG Sub-Committee),
a new Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of
Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS
Sub-Committee). The mandate of the GHS Sub-Committee is to:
(a) Act as custodian of the globally harmonized system of classification and
labeling of chemicals, managing and giving direction to the harmonization
process;
(b) Keep the system up to date, as necessary, considering the need to introduce
changes to ensure its continued relevance and practical utility, and
determining the need for and timing of the updating of technical criteria,
while working with existing bodies, as appropriate;
(c) Promote understanding and use of the system and encourage feedback;
(d) Make the system available for worldwide use and application;
(e) Make guidance available on the application of the system, and on the
interpretation and use of technical criteria to support consistency of
application;
(f) Prepare work programmes and submit recommendations to the Committee.
The mandate of the reconfigured Committee is to:
(a) Approve the work programmes for the Subcommittees in the light of available
resources;
(b) Coordinate strategic and policy directions in areas of shared interests and
overlap;
(c) Give formal endorsement to the recommendations of the Subcommittees and
provide the mechanism for channelling them to the Economic and Social Council;
(d) Facilitate and coordinate the smooth running of the Subcommittees.
The GHS Sub-Committee held its two first sessions in 2001 (9-11 July 2001 and
12-14 December 2001).
In September 2001, the IOMC Coordinating Group (CG/HCCS) finalized its work and
handed over a first version of the GHS for consideration by the GHS
Sub-Committee at its second session.
This first version was explained to the GHS Sub-Committee through PowerPoint
presentations by members of the Sub-Committee. GHS Sub-Committee First Version
PowerPoint slides are available by clicking here.
It is hoped that countries will adopt the GHS in the near future. Availability
of information about chemicals, their hazards, and ways to protect people, will
provide the foundation for national programs for the safe management of
chemicals. Widespread management of chemicals in countries around the world
will lead to safer conditions for the global population, while allowing the
benefits of chemical use to continue. Harmonization will also have benefits in
terms of facilitating international trade, by promoting greater consistency in
the national requirements for chemical hazard classification and communication
that companies engaged in international trade must meet.
- UNITAR, in
co-operation with ILO and other IOMC organizations, is currently drafting guidance
to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition to
strengthen national capacities to develop and implement an effective national
strategy for hazard communication. Subject to available resources, the
Programme, in collaboration with our IOMC partners, will support a small number
of pilot countries to develop national hazard communication strategies through
the involvement of affected and interested parties.Click here for information on UNITAR efforts.
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