From SEGOB:

On June 3, 2011, Mexico became the first country in the region to put the Global Harmonized System (GHS) for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals GHS into practice. The GHS standard NMX-R-019-SCFI-2011 has 2 parts: the Hazard Communication program in Mexico and GHS implementation.

The Mexican government states the following as the main objective of the new GHS standard:

This standard establishes criteria for Mexicans to classify chemicals according to their physical hazards, health and the environment. It also establishes the elements of hazard communication standard chemicals and the requirements for labeling and data sheets for their safety. This standard applies to the entire Mexican territory to classify chemicals and is the basis for the implementation of Hazard communication systems (labeling, marking, safety data sheets, etc.) of the agencies of the Public Administration within the scope of its powers. The requirements and characteristics of the labeling of products classified by applying criteria contained in this International Standard will be those established in rules issued by the Public Administration entities within the scope of its powers. Based on the provisions of the Purple Book of the United Nations are exempt from the application of this rule: pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics; pesticide residues in food and hazardous waste.

For more information on the standard, please visit the SEGOB website.

From prweb.com: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration moves to enact the globally harmonized system (GHS) for the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced that by August of this year, companies in the US must begin to adopt the globally harmonized system (GHS) for the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals.This means that virtually every product label, material safety data sheet (soon to be called “safety data sheet”), and written hazard communication plan must be revised to meet the new standard. Worker training must be updated so that workers can recognize and understand the symbols and pictograms on the new labels as well as the new hazard statements and precautions on MSDSs.

Click on the link above for more information.

From: Environmental Expert

The European Commission today presented draft legislation to strengthen rules on the control of major accident hazards involving chemicals. The revision of the so-called Seveso II Directive will align the legislation to changes in EU chemicals law and will clarify and update other provisions. This includes introducing stricter inspection standards and improving the level and quality of information available to the public in the event of an accident. The new Directive should apply from 1 June 2015.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: “The Seveso II Directive has been instrumental in reducing the likelihood and consequences of chemical accidents. However, such accidents still occur and can often have devastating effects. We cannot compromise with safety. This is why the proposed new rules will further strengthen legislation in this area and ensure the necessary high levels of protection.” The review was prompted by the adoption of rules to align the EU classification system to the UN Globally Harmonised System. It will ensure that the same hazards are described and labelled in the same way all around the world.

For more on the changes involved in this legislation, please click the above link.

From: ECHA

By 3 January 2011, ECHA received 3 114 835 notifications of 24 529 substances for the Classification and Labelling Inventory. By this deadline, industry had to notify the classification and labelling of all chemical substances that are hazardous or subject to registration under the REACH regulation and placed on the EU market.

The Classification, Labelling and Packaging regulation relates to chemical substances and mixtures. It introduces into the EU the criteria of the United Nations’ Globally Harmonised System for classifying and labelling chemicals. One of the aims of the CLP regulation is to improve the protection of human health and the environment by providing criteria for defining when a substance or mixture displays properties that lead to its classification as hazardous.

The largest number of the notifications, over 800 000, came from Germany. Over 500 000 notifications were submitted from the United Kingdom and nearly 300 000 from France. All together over 6 600 companies notified at least one substance.

Click on the links for more information.

From: PRLog

Korea has taken a major step toward achieving full compliance with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for the classification and labeling of chemicals by identifying 151 substances as “hazardous” for consultation. The Ministry of the Environment (MoE) in Korea also is placing more responsibilities on manufacturers and importers by introducing new rules regarding updating and content of material safety data sheets (MSDS).

The MoE has provided a list of the substances together with each proposed classification on its website that includes a description of the methodology used and a list of the evidence for each proposed classification along with a facility to provide feedback via e-mail to the MoE.

Companies should also be aware that an amendment of the ISHA is planned in January 2011 and due to take effect in July 2011. This amendment will place a new responsibility on manufacturers and importers — rather than users — to supply GHS-compliant MSDSs. There will also be an obligation to keep MSDSs fully reviewed and updated.

Click on the links for more information.

From: Occupational Health and Safety

The 20th meeting of the UNECE Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, also known as GHS, will take place Dec. 7-9, 2010, in Geneva. While a detailed agenda has not yet been completed, the preliminary agenda indicates a U.S. expert may present an analysis requested by the sub-committee in mid-2009 of practices and regulations in place for combustible dust.

Dec. 1, 2010, is also significant because it is the first of two phase-in implementation deadlines  for REACH and the date when companies in the European Union must apply CLP, the new European Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging, to chemical substances.

At the Geneva meeting, Australia is scheduled to present a final report summarizing the GHS classification lists maintained by each country, their plans for lists to support GHS implementation, how various sectors in different countries use classification lists now, and what future needs there are for such lists.

We will keep you informed of any regulatory changes regarding the upcoming implementation of GHS.

Relevant Nexreg Compliance Links: REACH compliance, GHS SDS authoring, SDS authoring

Earlier this month, Nexreg launched a free video series titled   ‘Nexreg on Compliance’ which addresses hazard communication (HazCom)   issues for jurisdictions such as Canada, the United States and the   European Union.  The videos can be found on Nexreg’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/Nexreg.
Today, a new video has been released:

• Can I Use My U.S. MSDS in Europe or Canada?

This video answers the question “Can I use my U.S. MSDS in Europe, Canada or other jurisdictions?” The video highlights when MSDSs can be ported over to other jurisdictions and when they cannot. As well, there is a brief discussion of GHS.

Nexreg plans on adding a new video every Friday.  The questions   answered in the video series will come from viewer requests, so please   send your questions to info@nexreg.com.
To learn more about Nexreg Compliance please visit www.nexreg.com or call our toll-free line at (866)361-3032.

Earlier this month, Nexreg launched a free video series titled ‘Nexreg on Compliance’ which addresses hazard communication (HazCom) issues for jurisdictions such as Canada, the United States and the European Union.  The videos can be found on Nexreg’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/Nexreg.

Today, a new video has been released:

• The Van Halen Theory of Regulatory Compliance

The Van Halen Theory of Regulatory Compliance illustrates why it is important to get the small details right on your MSDS and consumer chemical product labels under CPSC, CCCR and EU regulations.

Nexreg plans on adding a new video every Friday.  The questions answered in the video series will come from viewer requests, so please send your questions to info@nexreg.com.

To learn more about Nexreg Compliance please visit www.nexreg.com or call our toll-free line at (866)361-3032.

From: United Nations Secretariat

The Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals held its nineteenth session from 30 June to 2 July 2010, with Ms. Kim Headrick (Canada) as Chairperson and Mr. Thomas Gebel (Germany) and Mrs. Elsie Snyman (South Africa) as vice-chairpersons.

The report highlights updates to the third revised edition of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), including physical, health and environmental hazards. It also discusses attendance at the session, and hazardous communication issues. Finally it discusses the implementation of the GHS, stating current implementation issues and reports on the status of implementation.

Reports such as these are released twice and year and are available at: UNECE

Relevant Nexreg Compliance Links: REACH compliance, GHS SDS authoring, SDS authoring

From: The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) – WHMIS After GHS

When the GHS regulations are applied to WHMIS there will be new rules for classification and labeling of chemical products, and the preparation of safety data sheets (SDS). WHMIS will not be replaced by GHS, however, WHMIS will incorporate GHS elements.

There will be new guidelines for the following:

1. Classification rules
2. Label requirements
3. Safety Data Sheets formerly known as material safety data sheet (MSDS) will have a format change (16 sections instead of 9)and additional content will be required.
4. Some hazard classes will have more specific names
5. Some new classes may be added to WHMIS (i.e. explosives – currently covered by other legislation)
6. Hazard pictograms to be used instead of symbols

For more information visit the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Website.