GHS stands for Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. A common & coherent approach to defining & classifying hazards, & a system to ensure consistent world-wide hazard communication through uniform hazard information on labels & safety data sheets.
Why We Need to Classify Chemicals?
- To identify the intrinsic hazards of a chemical.
- To determine the degree of severity of the hazard effect.
- To be used as the basis in labelling and provision of Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
- To be used as the basis of risk assessment and regulatory actions.
Why GHS?
- No country has ability to identify & specifically regulate every hazardous chemical product.
- Adoption of requirements for info. to accompany product helps address protection needs.
- Many countries came to same conclusion about using information dissemination as regulatory means to address chemical hazards.
- Countries have different requirements for hazard definitions as well as information on a label or safety data sheet.
- Impact of having different hazard classification & communication systems in the area of protection & trade.
Scope of Coverage
- Workplace, transport & consumer sectors.
- Cover industrial chemicals, pesticides, consumer chemical products.
Exceptions
- Pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics, pesticide residues in food not covered for intentional intake.
- Articles outside the scope of GHS.
