1. (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, 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)
Système déjà harmonisé pour le transport (effets physiques et toxicité aiguë)

3. Objectives of the GHS Harmonized hazards classes and harmonized
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)
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 publication
2005 First revised edition
2007 Second revised edition
2008 GHS Implementation (WSSD)
10 years preparation
World Summit on Sustainalble Development, Par. 23 © of its plan of implementation

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. GHS Historical background (3): harmonization of existing systems
United States
European Union
GHS
Japan
Documents détaillés comparant les différents systèmes; Recommandations OMS/FAO pour les pesticides
Recommandations de l’Organisation des Nations-Unies pour le transport
Directives de l’UE sur les substances et préparations
Réglementation du Canada et des US pour les travailleurs, les consommateurs et les pesticides
Recommendation Transport
Dangerous Goods*
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 Transport of Dangerous Goods
Sub-commmittee of experts
on the GHS

8. Classification criteria for substances and mixtures
Labelling
Scope of GHS (1)
Classification criteria for substances and mixtures
Symbols
Safety data sheets
Hazard statements
Signal
words
Y compris additifs et impuretés identifiées (concentrations ≥ valeurs seuil
Informations minimales et document d’orientation
Examples de conseils de prudences
Produits pharmaceutiques, additis alimentaires et résidus de pesticide dans les aliments ne sont pas couverts par le SGH en terme d’étiquetage pour leur administration intentionnelle.
Conseils de prudence: general (P1XX), prevention (P2XX), réponse (P3XX), stockage (P4XX), élimination (P5XX).
Codes pour les mentions de danger ex: H225 Liquide et vapeur très inflammable, et pour les conseils de prudence PXXX,
Pictogrammes de prudence
No list of classified substances

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

10. Scope of SGH (3): hazards covered by the GHS
Physical hazards
Health hazards
Environmental hazards
Détails fournis par les autres présentateurs

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
Codes pour les mentions de danger ex: H225 Liquide et vapeur très inflammable, et pour les conseils de prudence PXXX,
Nom, adresse et tel du fabricant ou fournisseur
Règles de précédence:
Symboles pour la santé humaine: ex: pas de point d’exclamation si “skull and crossbones” applies
Mention d’avertissement: si “Danger” s’applique, “Attention” ne s’applique pas

17. Hazard communication (2): pictograms and symbols
Couleurs: blanc, rouge , noir
Mêmes symboles pour differents dangers: ex: “Danger pour la santé” est utilisé pour la sensibilisation respiratoire, pour la mutagénicité pour les cellules germinales (catégorie 1A, 1B et 2), pour la cancerogenicité (categories 1A, 1B et 2), pour la toxicité pour la reproduction (catégories 1A, 1B et 2), pour la toxicité pour certains organes cibles (catégories 1 et 2, exposition unique ou répétée) et pour le danger par aspiration.
Le point d’exclamation:Toxicité aigue (Cat. 4), corrosion/irritation cutanée (Cat. 2), Lésions occulaires graves/irritation oculaire (Cat. 2A), sensibilisation cutanée, Toxicité pour certains organes cibles (exposition unique, Cat. 3)

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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)

24. 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)
Poids de l’évidence

25. Principles of the GHS (3)
Bridging principles for mixtures
Dilution
Batching
Concentration of highly toxic mixtures
Interpolation within one toxicity category
Substantially similar mixtures
Principes pour l’étiquetage: le niveau de danger indiqué doir être consistant d’un danger à un autre.
Le format et la couleur sont normalisés

26. 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

27. 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)
Symbole; Mention d’avertissement: Danger; Mention de danger: Gaz extrêmement inflammable
(Critères avec valeur seuils)

28. 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

29. 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)

30. Example of labelling: hazards to the aquatic environment - Acute
Category 1
Category 2
Category 3
Symbol
Environment
No symbol
Signal word
Warning
No signal word
Hazard Statement
Very toxic to aquatic life
Toxic to aquatic life
Harmful to aquatic life
Un grand nombre de catégories
Révision des catégories pour les dangers à long terme

31. Example of labelling: Hazards to aquatic life - Chronic
Category 1
Category 2
Category 3
Category 4
Symbol
Environment
No symbol
Signal word
Warning
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

32. 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