WH I T E P A P E R WH I T E P A P E R WH I T E P A P E R WH I T E P A P E R O c t o b e r 2 0 1 0 GHS Chemical Labeling Compliance: Requirements & Solutions

Introduction Until recently, chemical labels were regulated by standards created by individual nations, usually with advice and commentary from related industry groups. We are now moving into an era of globalization, in which the manufacture, packaging, transport, sale, and use of chemicals and chemical products is accomplished by a globally interconnected supply chain. Driven by the recognition that chemicals must be classified and labeled under a universally understood communications system in order to avoid risks to human health and the environment, every nation in the world has agreed to...

Deadlines for Compliance GHS labeling regulations are now legally required within the European Union and parts of Asia, and are in the process of legal adoption in the United States and Canada. Each region has taken a multi-phasic approach to adoption of GHS standards, with interim deadlines for compliance by chemical type. Currently, GHS compliant labels will be required for pure substance chemical products manufactured, imported, shipped, or advertised within Europe or to Europe from other regions as of 1 December 2010. Compliance dates for products shipped within the United States and Canada...

Chemical Mixtures: Examples include adhesives, dyes, laboratory chemicals, paints, plastics, solvents, and chemicals used in cleaning products, cosmetics, and toiletries DSD/DPD, Country-specific standards 1 June 2015 Transition Period for Chemical Mixtures which are Manufactured and “On-the-Shelf” before 1 June 2015 (grace period, allows use of labels that do not meet GHS standards) DSD/DPD, Country-specific standards 1 June 2017 Pesticides FAO, DSD/DPD, WHO 1 June 2015 Asia Countries of: China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand...

Canada Chemical Substance/Functional Area Previous standard, replaced by GHS Deadline Date for Adoption Pure Chemical Substances: (Explosives; Flammable gases; Flammable aerosols; Oxidizing gases; Gases Under pressure; Flammable liquids; Flammable solids; Self reactive substances and mixtures; Pyrophoric liquids; Pyrophoric solids; Self-heating substances and mixtures; Substances and mixtures which in contact with water will emit Oxidizing liquids, Oxidizing solids, Oxidizing peroxides, Corrosive to metals) WHMIS Not yet established Pesticides PMRA, CPSB, WHMIS Not yet established Hazardous Goods...

Hazardous Goods for Transport ANSI, DOT, OSHA Not yet established Chemical Mixtures: Examples include adhesives, dyes, laboratory chemicals, paints, plastics, solvents, and chemicals used in cleaning products, cosmetics, and toiletries ANSI, OSHA, EPA Not yet established Required GHS Label Elements Under GHS regulations, a Product Identifier, Pictogram, Signal Word, Hazard Statement, and Suppler Information must be stated on each chemical product label. • Product Identifier A Product Identifier is the ingredient name or number of the pure chemical substance or chemical mixture. The technical...

be taken to minimize or prevent risks associated with the hazard. The number of precautionary statements should be kept to a maximum of six. An example of a precautionary statement would be: “Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces – no smoking” in relation to a pictogram that shows Explosive Danger and a Hazard Statement such as “Heating may cause an explosion.” • Supplier Information Each chemical container, including secondary packaging such as crates and master cases, must include a GHS label printed with the Supplier Information. This must include the name, address, and telephone...

setting, where packaging staff are required to identify and select the correct pre-printed label roll from among the many rolls on warehouse shelves for each batch. Option Two: Printing Labels with a 2-Color Label Printer A digital label printer capable of printing labels in two different colors, in one printing pass, provides manufacturers with the flexibility to make durable, color-fast labels with different GHS label content, in different label sizes, according to production demand. Manufacturers with a two-color digital label printer can adapt their in-house labeling system to print labels...

Use of Color-Coded Pictograms on GHS Labels The GHS labeling standard requires visual, color-coded hazard warnings as part of its aim to make chemical hazard warnings universally understood. The purpose is to overcome the barriers created by the use of different languages, and by illiteracy, by visually conveying information about chemical hazards and safety measures. The use of the same standard symbols (pictograms) and color codes on chemical labels around the world ensures that workers who handle chemicals during production, transport, or at the point of use will share the same recognition...

Germ Cell Mutagenicity, Carcinogenicity; Organ Damage; Birth Defects; Aspiration Hazard; Breathing Difficulties, Allergies, or Asthma if Inhaled Classes Aquatic Environmental Toxicity Acute; Aquatic Environmental Toxicity, Chronic Harmful if Swallowed; Toxic if Inhaled; Harmful in Contact with Skin; May Cause an Allergic Skin Reaction; May Cause Respiratory Irritation Transport Label Pictograms (valid under GHS) Explosive, Division 1.1, Self-reactive Explosive, Division 1.2 Explosive, Division 1.3 Explosive, Division 1.4 Explosive, Division 1.5 Explosive, Division 1.6 Flammable gas, Flammable...

Gas under pressure Gas under pressure Flammable liquid and vapor Flammable Solid, Self-reactive Substance or Mixture Pyrophoric Liquid, Pyrophoric Solid, Self-Heating Substance or Mixture Substance Emits Flammable Gases Organic Peroxides Corrosive to Metals Acute Toxicity, Oral, Skin, Inhalation, Skin Corrosion/Irritation GHS Label Material Standards GHS imposes packaging material requirements consistent with its safety measures aimed at containing chemical hazards. In Europe, the CLP (Classification, Labelling, and Packaging) Regulation administered by the European Chemical Agency under EC Regulation...