European Union Globally Harmonised System for the Classification & Labelling of Chemicals

The European Union Globally Harmonised System for the Classification & Labelling of Chemicals is a draft European Union regulation adopted by the European Commission on 2007-06-27. [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2007:0355:FIN:EN:HTML Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.] COM (2007) 355 final. "OJEC" C191 of 2008-08-17, p. 9.] It proposes to align the EU system of classification, labelling and packaging substances and mixtures to the United Nations Globally Harmonized System (GHS). It is expected to facilitate global trade and harmonised communication of hazard information of chemicals and to promote regulatory efficiency. It will complement the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation and replace the current system contained in Directive 67/548/EEC [ [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31967L0548:EN:HTML Council Directive 67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances.] "OJEC" L196 of 1967-08-16, pp. 1–98; "OJEC English special edition, Series I, Chapter 1967", p. 0234.] and Directive 1999/45/EC. [http://ecb.jrc.it/Legislation/1999L0045EC.pdf Directive 1999/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 1999 concerning the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations.] "OJEC" L200 of 1999-07-20, pp. 1–68.] The proposed Regulation will be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council under the co-decision procedure.

The proposal incorporates the classification criteria and labelling rules agreed at UN level, the so called Globally Harmonized System of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS). It will introduce new classification criteria, hazard symbols (pictograms) and labelling phrases, while taking account of elements which are part of the current EU legislation.

The proposed regulation requires companies to classify, label and package appropriately their substances and mixtures before placing them on the market. It aims to protect workers, consumers and the environment by means of labelling which reflects possible hazardous effects of a particular chemical. It also takes over provisions of the REACH Regulation regarding the notification of classifications, the establishment of a list of harmonised classifications and the creation of a classification and labelling inventory.

Implementation

The proposal will undergo co-decision, seeking agreement of the European Parliament and the Council. After entry into force, the deadline for substance reclassification is proposed to be 1 December 2010 and for mixtures 1 June 2015. As of August 2008, the proposal has passed the following legislative steps:
*Discussion in the Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry and Research) Council, 2007-11-22; [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/FindByProcnum.do?lang=2&procnum=COD/2007/0121 European Parliament Legislative Observatory. Procedure no. COD/2007/0121.] Retrieved 2008-08-23.]
*Report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament (rapporteuse: Amalia Sartori), 2008-01-11, approved 2008-04-02, tabled before the full Parliament 2008-04-09; [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A6-2008-0140+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.] Document A6-0140/2008.]
*Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (EESC), 2008-03-28 [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2008:204:0047:0056:EN:PDF Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.] "OJEC" C204 of 2008-08-09, pp. 47-56.] The proposal is expected to be discussed at a plenary session of the European Parliament on 2008-09-03.

There are further proposals in this area which have been adopted by Commission. [ [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2007:0611:FIN:EN:PDF Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 76/768/EEC, 88/378/EEC, 1999/13/EC and Directives 2000/53/EC, 2002/96/EC and 2004/42/EC in order to adapt them to Regulation (EC) … on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.] COM (2007) 611 final.] [ [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2007:0613:FIN:EN:PDF Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 in order to adapt it to Regulation (EC) No … on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.] COM (2007) 613 final.] These will adapt classification-based provisions in other existing EU legislation (“downstream legislation”) to the new rules.

References

External links

* [http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/reach/ghs_en.htm European Commission]
* [http://buyusainfo.net/info.cfm?id='14262141'&keyx='892167C1F70B795D2E7CB221FFE63117'&navcol= U.S. Commercial Service]