Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
The United Nations (UN) is undertaking a program to harmonize the classification and labeling of chemicals worldwide for health and environmental effects under a program adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in 1992. While appropriate for workplace and transport situations, the proposed classification criteria, which are focused on hazard classification, have the potential to affect the U.S. safety laws and regulations for consumer products, as well as the global competitiveness of U.S. companies if decisions to warn consumers are based on hazard rather than risk.
ACI efforts on the international initiative have focused on having classification and labeling systems that encompass consumer product applications incorporate consideration of risk in making labeling decisions. ACI has developed information on the classification and labeling of consumer products to support input to the U.S. government, international industry organizations, U.S. industry organizations and the international negotiations. As the only consumer product organization participating in all facets of the negotiations, ACI has taken the lead nationally and internationally to encourage that risk be taken into account in making decisions on hazards that should be warned on consumer product labels. ACI coordinates nationally with U.S. industry organizations, and with industries in other countries through AISE, JSDA and ACCORD.
ACI has been engaged in discussions regarding adoption of the GHS in the U.S. for workplace situations, consumer use situations, and pesticide products.
Links:
United Nations
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), Third revised edition, United Nations, 2009
http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_rev03/03files_e.html
Japan
Guidance on a consumer product risk assessment for GHS labeling
http://www.safe.nite.go.jp/english/ghs/consumer_product.html
ACI comments:
The American Cleaning Institute (formerly the Soap and Detergent Association) comments on proposals and options that represent the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) thoughts for implementation of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for Chemical Hazard Classification and Labeling, as cited in the Federal Register (69 FR 52262) notice "Pesticides; Implementation of Globally Harmonized System; Notice of Availability," Submitted to Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Docket ID Number OPP-2004-0205, December 6, 2004
Resources:
An Option for Consumer Product Labeling Based on the Likelihood of Injury, 6th Meeting of the ILO Working Group for the Harmonization of Chemical Hazard Communication, Rome, 30 October-2 November 2000, Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management Of Chemicals, ILO/HC6/00.13, 21.09.2000, September 21, 2000
Current Sector Uses of Risk Communication, Inter-Organization Programme for IOMC/ILO/HC3/99.7, 8.05.99, The Sound Management Of Chemicals, Global Harmonization of Chemical Classification and Labelling Systems, Third Meeting of the ILO Working Group for the Harmonization of Chemical Hazard Communication, Dublin, 21-23 June 1999
Labeling Based On Hazard and Likelihood Of Injury, Key Issue Papers, Prepared by International Organization of Employers, Inter-Organization Programme For The Sound Management Of Chemicals, IOMC/ILO/HC4/99.14, 14.09.99, Fourth Meeting of the ILO Working Group for the Harmonization of Chemical Hazard Communication, Washington, 1-4 November 1999.