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Laurence Musset ( Organisation for Economic Coopération and Development)

The General Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) UNITAR Regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS implementation for countries of the ECOWAS Region Abuja , Nigeria, 13-15 May 2008. Laurence Musset

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Laurence Musset ( Organisation for Economic Coopération and Development)

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  1. The General Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)UNITAR Regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS implementation for countries of the ECOWAS RegionAbuja , Nigeria, 13-15 May 2008 Laurence Musset (Organisation for Economic Coopération and Development) UNITAR GHS expert roster

  2. 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)

  3. Objectives of the GHS Harmonized hazards classes and categories harmonized Labelling and Safety 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 international exchanges

  4. GHS Historical background (1) ILORecommendation 177 1992 UN Conference on the Environment and Development (Chapter 19, Agenda 21) 2001 GHS Transfert to ECOSOC 2003 Endorsement by ECOSOC and publication 2005 First revised edition 2007 Second revised edition 2008 GHS Implementation (WSSD) 10 years preparation

  5. 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

  6. United States European Union Recommendation Transport Dangerous Goods* Japan GHS Historical background (3): harmonization of existing systems GHS Canada

  7. 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 GHS Sub-commmittee of experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

  8. Labelling Scope of GHS (1) Classification criteria for substances and mixtures Symbols Safety data sheets Hazard statements Signal words No list of classified substances

  9. Scope of GHS (2): Sectors and chemicals covered by the GHS Workplace/industrial Consumers Pesticides/Biocides Transport Others

  10. Scope of SGH (3): hazards covered by the GHS • Physical hazards • Health hazards • Environmental hazards

  11. 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)

  12. 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)

  13. 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)

  14. 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)

  15. Scope of GHS (8): environmental hazards • Hazards for the aquatic environment (4.1)

  16. 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

  17. Hazard communication (2): pictograms and symbols

  18. 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

  19. 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 organs in concentration exceeding cut-off values • In other cases, if required by the competent authority

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. 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)

  23. 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)

  24. Principles of the GHS (3) • Bridging principles for mixtures • Dilution • Batching • Concentration of highly toxic mixtures • Interpolation within one toxicity category • Substantially similar mixtures

  25. 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

  26. 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)

  27. 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 /or b) 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

  28. 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)

  29. Example of labelling: hazards to the aquatic environment - Acute

  30. Example of labelling: Hazards to aquatic life - Chronic

  31. 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

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