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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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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 (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