Search
Close this search box.

What is GHS?

Share

Table of Contents

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is a standard developed by the United Nations (UN) to globally standardize and harmonize the classification and labelling of chemicals.

This system was developed because there were significant differences and inconsistencies in classifying and labeling chemical products among countries and territories.

Under such a situation, it was difficult for competent authorities to govern chemical-related activities, challenging for companies to comply with different local regulations, and confusing for workers and consumers to get appropriate information on chemical hazards.

GHS, therefore, produces a solution to address this issue. Particularly, this system provides:

  1. harmonized criteria for the classification of substances and mixtures
  2. based on their intrinsic physical, health, and environmental hazards
  3. harmonized hazard communication elements
  4. including the content and format of labels and safety data sheets (SDS)

Target audiences of GHS:

  • consumers
  • workers
  • transportation workers
  • emergency responders

 

The ultimate aim of GHS is to improve the protection of human health and the environment during the handling, transport, and use of chemicals.

Workers and the public can now refer to available hazard information to enhance their safety at work and in daily life.

GHS guidance also supports emergency responders with more efficient responses and best practices in case of chemical incidents.

Animal welfare is also uplifted as guidance on possible alternatives is provided in detail. By providing harmonized rules for classification and hazard communication, GHS also plays a vital role in facilitating international trading activities in chemicals whose hazards have been properly identified.

“GHS provides harmonized criteria for the classification of substances and mixtures and harmonized hazard communication elements including labels and SDSs”

The UN-GHS is a voluntary international system that is not legally binding in any country. In other words, GHS provides a recognized and comprehensive framework as a reference.

More specifically, under a so-called building-block approach, countries are free to adopt GHS elements, which are applicable to them, to develop and implement their national GHS, or to supplement their existing chemical legislation system.

The adaptation of relevant GHS elements can be, for example, considered based on the product sector, the user settings, or the target audiences, etc.

To date, there are numerous regions and countries worldwide that have adopted and enacted GHS. For instance, the European Union has established its version of GHS through Regulation 1272/2008 (CLP) which regulates the Classification, Labelling, and Packaging of the product.

Countries that have adopted and implemented the GHS system

o   Argentinao   Greeceo   Norway
o   Armeniao   Guatemalao   Paraguay
o   Australiao   Guineao   Peru
o   Austriao   Honduraso   Philippines
o   Belaruso   Hungaryo   Poland
o   Belgiumo   Icelando   Portugal
o   Boliviao   Indonesiao   Republic of Korea
o   Brazilo   Irelando   Romania
o   Bulgariao   Israelo   Russian Federation
o   Cambodiao   Italyo   Senegal
o   Canadao   Japano   Serbia
o   Chileo   Kazakhstano   Singapore
o   Chinao   Kyrgyzstano   Slovakia
o   Colombiao   Lao People’s Democratic Republico   Slovenia
o   Costa Ricao   Latviao   South Africa
o   Côte d’Ivoireo   Liechtensteino   Spain
o   Croatiao   Lithuaniao   Sweden
o   Cypruso   Luxembourgo   Switzerland
o   Czech Republico   Madagascaro   Thailand
o   Democratic Republic of Congoo   Malaysiao   Tunisia
o   Denmarko   Maltao   Turkey
o   Ecuadoro   Mauritiuso   Ukraine
o   Estoniao   Mexicoo   United Kingdom
o   Finlando   Montenegroo   United States of America
o   Franceo   Myanmaro   Uruguay
o   Gambiao   Netherlandso   Viet Nam
o   Germanyo   New Zealando   Zambia
o   Ghanao   Nigeria

EU – CLP

Developed based on the UN-GHS, the Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation (EC No 1272/2008) came into force in 2009 to regulate the classification and labelling of substances and mixtures in the EU market.

CLP is a legal-binding regulation to all Member States of the EU with the aim of protecting human and environmental health and facilitating the smooth movement of chemical-related products inside the Union.

Under the CLP, manufacturers, importers, or downstream users of the substance or mixture are obligated to classify, label, and package substances and mixtures before placing them on the market. Once the substance or mixture is classified as hazardous, the hazard information, including hazard class and category, must be communicated to actors involved in the supply chain.

The hazard communication is visually enabled in the form of hazard labelling which consists of specific labelling elements:

  • hazard pictograms
  • signal words
  • hazard statements

CLP pictograms

In principle, the label as well as the safety data sheet are required to be composed in the official language(s) of the country where the product is placed on the market.

“CLP is a legal-binding regulation to all Member States in the European Union. The main actors under CLP regulation are manufacturers, importers, and downstream users”

In the CLP, there are certain hazardous substances whose classification and labelling are harmonized.

This harmonization of classification and labelling is to ensure a sound and harmonized risk management throughout countries in the Union for chemicals whose hazards meet specific criteria set in the regulation. A competent authority, manufacturer, importer, or downstream user can also submit proposals for harmonized classification and labelling of substances to the European Chemical Agency (ECHA).

For substances, which are subject to REACH registration or meet certain criteria about hazard classification and concentration limit, their classification and labelling information must be notified to the C&L inventory database managed by ECHA.

This notification to C&L inventory is an obligation of the manufacturer or importer responsible for placing the substance on the market.

In line with Article 45 of CLP, importers or downstream users placing hazardous mixtures on the market, which are classified for human health or physical hazards, must provide specific information on their mixtures to appointed bodies through a process called Poison Centre notification (PCN).

VN-GHS

Through the Law on Chemicals No. 06/2007/QH12 and Decree No. 113/2017/ND-CP, Vietnam has adopted and implemented technical rules and guidelines of GHS version 2 (2007) onwards. Classifications, labelling, and safety data sheets are required for hazardous substances from 30/03/2014 and hazardous mixtures from 30/03/2016. According to the regulations, SDSs shall be made in Vietnamese language.

How can Chementors support you

Chementors understand the challenges that GHS regulations may put on clients. From years of working in the GHS field almost on a daily-task basis, we are experienced in the classification and labelling requirements of different countries around the world. In addition, we are well-equipped with an up-to-date safety data sheet and label authoring system, Chemeter, that enables us to efficiently generate and translate legal SDS and labels to multiple languages for requested market areas.

We can also help you review your current SDS and label to ensure their full compliance with the most updated regulations of the country of destination. When it is needed, we would discuss relevant issues with your suppliers to gather necessary information for the classification and labelling of the product.

Furthermore, when applicable, we would also evaluate available data to consult plausible options of classification and labelling tailored to the client’s needs. If necessary, we would help clients modify and reformulate the product to minimize classification or to substitute substances of concern.
Chementors also handle C&L inventory and PCN notification under EU-CLP regulations and other country-specific GHS requirements.

Chementors’ GHS services

As our main goal, we strive to manage all chemical regulatory issues on a turnkey basis to support clients in opening the gate to the market.

Chementors’ team of specialists helps companies to survive in the ever changing jungle of laws concerning chemical, environmental and product safety in Europe and all around the World.

Requests for quotations and inquiries