Aids to working with the EU GHS Regulation

GHS of the United Nations

The United Nations' "Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)" forms the basis for the harmonization worldwide of regulations for the classification and labelling of hazardous substances and hazardous goods, and for the worldwide harmonization of the national and regional systems for classification and labelling:

• UN-GHS ("Purple Book“) in its 2^nd revised edition (2007)

Amendments to the 2^nd revised edition were published in July 2009:

• Amendments to the 2^nd revised edition of the UN GHS (2009)

Significant amendments are:

• New regulations for the assignment of H-phrases to the substances; in particular, H-phrase combinations analogous to the previous R-phrase combinations have been adopted
• New regulations for the labelling of small packages
• Two new sub-categories for respiratory and skin sensitization
• Revision of the classification criteria for long-term hazards (chronic toxicity) to the aquatic environment
• Ozone depletion has been adopted as a new UN hazard class, with a single category. Labelling is by means of the "exclamation mark" pictogram, the signal word "Warning", and the new H-phrase H420, "Harms public health and the environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere", and the new P-phrase P502, "Refer to manufacturer/supplier for information on recovery/recycling"
• Detail changes to the eco pictogram ("fish without fins and thin horizon")

New (UN, placing on the market)	New (UN, transport)

Old (EU)	Old (UN)

An overview of the current GHS pictograms is provided on the UNECE website, from where they can also be downloaded:

GHS pictograms

EU GHS

The UN GHS is a recommendation which must be implemented by the individual countries with binding force. In the EU, the GHS has been introduced with binding force in the form of an EU Regulation (based upon the 2007 edition of the UN GHS) which came into force on 20 January 2009.

GHS Regulation

Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006

• Front page Official Journal L353 of 31.12.2008
• Text of Regulation for download

1^st amendment

Commission Regulation (EC) No 790/2009 of 10 August 2009 amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures

• Front page Official Journal L235 of 05.09.2009
• Text of 1^st amendment for download

The 2009 amendments to the UN GHS (see above) have not yet been implemented in the EU.