The Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992 resulted in an international mandate, to create:
“a globally harmonized hazard classification and compatible labeling system, including material safety data sheets and easily understandable symbols” – This is abbreviated to the ‘GHS’.
The work on the UN GHS (also known as the ‘Purple Book’) began by examining the major existing classification and labelling systems around the world (including that of the EU).
The UN GHS aims to ensure that information of the hazardous properties of chemicals is available throughout the world in order to enhance the protection of human health and the environment during the handling, transport and use of chemicals.
The UN GHS provides the basis for harmonising regulations on chemicals at national, regional and worldwide level. This is important for facilitating trade.
The UN GHS also aims to provide a structure for countries that do not yet have a classification and labelling system.
Within the European Union (EU), Member States asked the European Commission to prepare a proposal for a Regulation which would implement the UN GHS criteria in all EU Member States. On 3rd September 2008, the European Parliament voted to secure a First Reading deal with the Council on the European Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures. It is known as the CLP Regulation or CLP.
The CLP Regulation was published in the European Union’s Official Journal on 31st December 2008 and entered into legal effect on 20th January 2009, subject to a lengthy transitional period. The proposed Regulation is direct-acting, requiring no national transposition. Its provisions will be phased in over a period of seven and a half years up to 1st June 2015. This is intended to help suppliers and users of chemicals change from the current EU classification and labelling system to the new GHS-based system.
The proposed new Regulation will replace the Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) and Dangerous Preparations Directive (1999/45/EC).
The timelines for implementation of the CLP regulation are as follows:
Experts at Brixham Environmental Laboratory and its collaborative partners are fully able to assist your organisations Classification, Labelling and Packaging requirements under the new regulation and is able to offer the full range of testing required along with the paper based activities.
