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The General Harmonized System of The General Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Classification and Labelling of

Chemicals Chemicals (GHS) (GHS)

UNITAR Regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard UNITAR Regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS implementation for Communication and GHS implementation for

countries of the ECOWAS Regioncountries of the ECOWAS RegionAbuja , Nigeria, 13-15 May 2008Abuja , Nigeria, 13-15 May 2008

Laurence Musset (Organisation for Economic Coopération and

Development) UNITAR GHS expert roster

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Importance of GHS

Harmonises classification criteria and hazard communication

• in different countries (with or without existing systems for classification/hazard communication)

•For different types of chemicals (substances et mixtures: e.g., industrial chemicals, pesticides, cosmetic ingredients)

•For different sectors (transport, workers, consumers)

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Objectives of the GHSHarmonized

hazards classes and categories

harmonizedLabelling andSafety Data

Sheets

•Increases human health and environment protection in countries without a classification and labelling system •Facilitates harmonization of hazard assessment•Reduces testing needs

Facilitates internationalexchanges

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GHS Historical background (1)

ILO Recommendation 177

1992 UN Conference on the Environment and Development

(Chapter 19, Agenda 21)

2001 GHS Transfert to ECOSOC 2003 Endorsement by ECOSOC and

publication2005 First revised edition2007 Second revised edition

2008 GHS Implementation (WSSD)

10 years preparation

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GHS Historical background (2)

Development by three focal points under the umbrella of a coordinating group of the Inter-

Organizations Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC)

Physical hazards: UN Experts for the transport of dangerous goods

(UNSCETDG)

Health and environmental hazards : OECD

Hazard Communication (Labelling and SDS): ILO

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GHS Historical background (3): harmonization of existing

systems

GHS

Recommendation TransportDangerous Goods*

European UnionUnited States

Japan

Canada

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GHS Historical background (4): Establishment of a new Sub-Committee in

1999

ECOSOC

Committee of Expert on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and

on the GHS

Sub-commmittee of experts on the

Transport of Dangerous Goods

Sub-commmittee of experts

on the GHS

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Scope of GHS (1)

Classification criteria for substances and

mixtures

Labelling

Symbols

Hazard statementsSignal

words

Safety data sheets

No list of classified substances

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Scope of GHS (2): Sectors and chemicals covered by the GHS

Consumers Workplace/industrial

Pesticides/Biocides

Transport Others

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Scope of SGH (3): hazards covered by the GHS

Physical hazards Health hazards Environmental hazards

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Scope of GHS (4): physical hazards

Explosives (2.1) Flammable gases (2.2) Flammable aerosols (2.3) Oxidizing gases (2.4) Gases under pressure (2.5) Flammable liquids (2.6) Flammable solids (2.7) Self-reactive substances and mixtures

(2.8)

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Scope of GHS (5): physical hazards (continued)

Pyrophoric liquids (2.9) Pyrophoric solids (2.10) Self-heating substances and mixtures (2.11) Substances and mixtures which, in contact

with water, emit flammable gases (2.12) Oxidizing liquids (2.13) Oxidizing solids (2.14) Organic peroxides (2.15) Corrosive to metals (2.16)

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Scope of GHS (6): health hazards

Acute toxicity (3.1) Skin corrosion/irritation (3.2) Serious eye damage/eye irritation (3.3) Respiratory or skin sensitization (3.4) Germ cell mutagenicity (3.5)

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Scope of GHS (7): health hazards (continued)

Carcinogenicity (3.6) ReproductiveToxicity (3.7) Specific target organ toxicity – Single

exposure (3.8) Specific target organ toxicity – Repeated

exposures (3.9) Aspiration hazard (3.10)

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Scope of GHS (8): environmental hazards

Hazards for the aquatic environment (4.1)

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Hazard communication (1): label elements

Pictograms (square + symbol (S)) Signal words (SW) (« Danger » or « Warning

») Hazard statements (HS) (e.g.: « Toxic in

contact with skin ») – Code: H311 Precautionary statements (and pictograms):

general (P1XX), prevention (P2XX), response (P3XX), storage (P4XX), disposal (P5XX).

Product identifier Supplier identification

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Hazard communication (2): pictograms and symbols

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Hazard communication (3): other label elements

Hazardous substances: chemical identity Mixtures: chemical identities of all

ingredients contributing to the classification or only if they contribute to:– Acute Toxicity– Skin corrosion /Serious eye damage– Germ cell mutagenicity– Carcinogenicity– Reproductive toxicity– Skin/respiratory sensitization– Specific target oran toxicity

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Hazard communication (4): Safety Data Sheets (SDS) –

Scope

Classified substances and mixtures Non classified mixtures containing

substances classified: - carcinogens- Toxic for reproduction- Toxic for specific target organsin concentration exceeding cut-off values In other cases, if required by the

competent authority

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Hazard communication (5): SDS- Format

1. Identification 2. Hazard(s) identification 3. Composition /information on

ingredients 4. First-aid measures 5. Fire-fighting measures 6. Accidental release measures 7. Handling and storage 8. Exposure controls/personal protection

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Hazard communication (5): SDS – Format (continued)

9. Physical and chemical properties 10. Stability and reactivity 11. Toxicological information 12. Ecotoxicological information 13. Disposal considerations 14. Transport information 15. Regulatory information 16. Other information

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Principles of the GHS (1)

Based on hazards (intrinsec properties), not on risk

No general reduction of protection compared to existing systems

Use of available data (no requirement for testing)

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Principles of GHS (2)

Tests conducted according to internationally recognized scientific principles

GHS should meet needs of all different users (consumers, workers, transport workers, emergency responders)

GHS is designed to permit self classification (however, expert judgement may be necessary in some cases)

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Principles of the GHS (3)

Bridging principles for mixtures– Dilution– Batching– Concentration of highly toxic mixtures– Interpolation within one toxicity

category– Substantially similar mixtures

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GHS Flexibility: Decisions by the competent authorities

Building Block approach (classes and categories)

Optional criteria/ labelling Specific cut-off values for the

classification of some mixtures Labelling of consumer products (risk

based) Supplementary labelling

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Example of classification criteria and labelling: physical hazard – Flammable

gases Category 1: Gases, which at à 20 °C and a standard

pressure of 101,3 kPa: – are ignitable when in a mixture of 13% or less by

volume in air; or– have a flammable range with air of at least 12%

regardless of the lower flammability limit.(S: flame ; SW: Danger; HS: Extremely flammable gas)

Category 2: Gases, other than those of Catégory 1, which, at à 20 °C and a standard pressure of 101,3 kPa, have a flammable range while mixed in air.(no symbol; SW: Warning; HS: Flammable gas)

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Example of classification and labelling criteria: health hazard – sensitization

Respiratory sensitizers:a) if there is evidence in humans that the substance can lead to specific respiratory hypersensitivity and /orb) if there are positive results from an appropriate animal test

(S: Health hazard; SW: Danger; HS: May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled

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Example of classification and labelling criteria: health hazard – sensitization

(continued)

Skin sensitizers:a) if there is evidence in humans that the substance can lead to specific respiratory hypersensitivity and/or b) if there are positive results from an appropriate animal test.

(S: Exclamation mark; SW: Warning; HS: May cause an allergic skin reaction

Cut-off for mixtures: ≥ 0,1 or 1,0 % (option)

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Example of labelling: hazards to the aquatic environment - Acute

Category 1 Category 2 Category 3

Symbol Environment No symbol No symbol

Signal word Warning No signal word No signal word

Hazard Statement

Very toxic to aquatic life

Toxic to aquatic life

Harmful to aquatic life

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Example of labelling: Hazards to aquatic life - Chronic

Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4

Symbol Environment Environment No symbol No symbol

Signal word Warning No signal word No signal word No signal word

Hazard Statement

Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects

May cause long lasting harmful effects to aquatic life

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GHS update

Long term aquatic hazards (revision adopted by the Sub-Committee)

Substances and mixtures depleting the ozone layer (proposal)

Sub-Categories to differentiate strong versus weak sensitizers (proposal)

Hazards for the terrestrial environment (mandate given to OECD for a preliminary study)

► Regular changes of the regulations expected to adapt GHS to technical progress