|
GB.271/STM/7/1
| ||
|
| ||
|
Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings and Related Issues |
STM |
|
| |
SEVENTH ITEM ON THE AGENDA
Other questions
Progress in the elaboration of a Globally Harmonized System
for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)
1. The elaboration of a Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) was initiated by the ILO in 1990 as follow-up on a 1989 Conference resolution requesting the Office to evaluate the size of the task of harmonizing existing systems, and to provide guidance on the implementation of the provisions of the Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170). As a result, a Coordinating Group for the Harmonization of Chemical Classification Systems (CG/HCCS) was established in 1992 under the umbrella of the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) to promote and manage the development of a GHS. The GHS project was subsequently endorsed as a priority for international cooperation by the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, Rio de Janeiro, 1992; Agenda 21, Chapter 19 on environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals) and by the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS, Stockholm, 1994).(1) The CG/HCCS, hereafter referred to as the Coordinating Group, was put under the umbrella of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) when it was created in 1995 to promote cooperation between the ILO, WHO, UNEP, FAO, UNIDO, UNITAR and OECD in implementing the UNCED recommendations related to chemical safety.(2)
2. On the basis of agreed terms of reference and work plans, the Coordinating Group identified three focal points to carry out the different work elements: the ILO and the UN ECOSOC Committee of Experts on Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN CETDG) were given jointly the task of harmonizing classification criteria for physical hazards; the OECD Advisory Group on Harmonization of Classification and Labelling was given responsibility for the work on all the classification criteria for health and environmental hazards; the ILO was designated as the focal point for harmonizing the chemical hazard communication component of the eventual GHS. In addition to its technical responsibilities, the ILO provides the secretariat for the Coordinating Group.
3. All the consultations of the Coordinating Group have been attended since 1992 by two experts designated by the Employers' and Workers' groups of the Governing Body of the ILO as their representatives on the Programme Advisory Committee of the IPCS. This has ensured effective tripartite input in the overall process of harmonization. It is estimated that under the umbrella of the three focal points, some 150 to 200 experts have been working on the different elements of the project and that over ten technical meetings are organized every year to define harmonized classification criteria. The overall participation in the project as listed in the appendix provides a good illustration of the magnitude of the efforts applied to the task at hand and consequently of the importance given worldwide to the elaboration of a GHS by the year 2000, as recommended by UNCED.
Progress made to date
4. The first phase of the work -- the elaboration of a set of harmonized classification criteria for all the hazard categories -- is now almost complete. The joint ILO/UN CETDG Working Group finalized harmonized classification criteria for physical hazards at its last meeting in December 1997 in Geneva. The OECD plans to finish its work on acute and long-term health hazards by the end of May 1998. An overall set of proposed harmonized classification criteria merging both the OECD and ILO/UN CETDG work should be submitted to the Coordinating Group in November 1998. Work has started within the OECD to develop a harmonized method for classifying mixtures of chemicals.
5. During its second session in February 1997 in Ottawa, the IFCS confirmed an earlier recommendation that the implementation mechanism of the GHS should follow a non-binding approach similar to that of the UN ECOSOC Recommendations on Transport of Dangerous Goods, it being understood that the GHS could become binding after eventual voluntary adoption by a sufficiently large number of countries. Work in this area is focusing mainly on a proposal to expand the current UN CETDG into a UN Committee of Experts on Classification and Labelling which would cover both the transport and use of chemicals. The IFCS also recommended that, in the process of further developing the implementation proposal, the expertise and eventual permanent input of the current focal points (the ILO, UN CETDG and OECD) in the implementation mechanism should be considered. The proposal is expected to be finalized in time for the third session of the IFCS, which will be hosted by Brazil in Rio de Janeiro in the year 2001.
Harmonization of chemical hazard communication tools
6. The Coordinating Group agreed that the work on harmonization of hazard communication would be carried out only after a set of harmonized classification criteria and labelling classes for each hazard category was defined. At its 10th Consultation (ILO, June 1997), the Coordinating Group asked the ILO, as the designated lead organization for this important element of the GHS, to convene a Working Group on Harmonization of Chemical Hazard Communication (WG/CHC) as early as possible in 1998. At its 11th Consultation (Ottawa, November 1997), the Coordinating Group agreed on the following proposed composition of the Working Group: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States; four experts representing Employers and four experts representing Workers. Observers would include the International Maritime Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the European Commission, the UN CETDG, the OECD and two international non-governmental organizations concerned with consumer and environmental safety. This proposed composition was based on indications given by the participants of their willingness to provide technical input in the work of the group on a voluntary and sustained basis. Australia, Canada and Japan have already confirmed in writing their participation in the eventual Working Group and have provided the names of their respective experts.
7. The Working Group is expected to meet at least twice a year. The first meeting, planned for mid-April or May 1998, will focus on the definition of specific work plans and the distribution of tasks among the participants. Subsequent meetings will in general be convened in conjunction with regular meetings of the Coordinating Group so as to reduce costs. It is expected that the work will require some five or six meetings and will be completed by the middle of the year 2000. Experts will be expected to participate at their own cost, and the meetings will be in English only. Budgetary implications for the ILO will be limited to the provision of the secretariat for the Working Group (about two work/months per year).
8. The provisions in Articles 7 and 8 of the ILO Chemicals Convention and Part II of the Recommendation which are relevant to hazard communication will serve as the main point of reference for the Working Group. The work will build on already existing hazard communication elements such as the UN CETDG and European hazard symbols, the European Commission's risk and safety phrases and the IPCS International Chemical Safety Cards Project. Methodology for training in the preparation of labels and chemical safety data sheets will also be part of the responsibilities of the Group. The objective will be to elaborate a proposed harmonized chemical hazard communication system which is simple, easy to implement and amenable to computer-aided translation to ensure full comprehensibility of precautionary information on labels by workers and consumers.
9. A set of harmonized chemical hazard communication tools -- labelling provisions and chemical safety data sheets -- will be the most essential and visible elements of the final GHS. It will provide full guidance on the selection of hazard symbols, precautionary phrases and other elements on the identity and manufacturer of the chemical. It will be the only part used daily by workers and other users and handlers of chemicals. A clear and visible reaffirmation of the ILO's leadership in this area is essential to ensure tripartite input in the ongoing process and to facilitate the ratification of ILO instruments which are relevant to chemical safety. It is important to note that the first ever set of coherent classification criteria and hazard symbols for chemicals designed to cover both the transport and use of chemicals was elaborated by the ILO in 1952 on the basis of recommendations made by the Chemical Industry Committee.
10. The Governing Body of the ILO may wish --
(a) to take note of the significant progress made to date in the elaboration of a Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals;
(b) to endorse the establishment of a Working Group for the Harmonization of Chemical Hazard Communication under the leadership of the ILO, as recommended by the IOMC Co-ordinating Group for the Harmonization of Chemical Classification Systems;
(c) to request the Office to report regularly to it on progress made toward a Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.
Geneva, 27 February 1998.
Point for decision: Paragraph 10.
Bodies participating in the CG/HCCS
as at November 1997
|
National institutions |
|
|
Australia |
Worksafe Australia |
|
Brazil |
Ministry of Labour |
|
Canada |
Human Resources Development Canada - Labour Program |
|
China |
Ministry of Labour |
|
Germany |
Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health |
|
India |
Ministry of Environment and Forests |
|
Japan |
Ministries of Health, Environment, Labour and Industry |
|
New Zealand |
Ministry of Environment |
|
Russian Federation |
Ministry of Health |
|
United States |
Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
|
United Kingdom |
Health and Safety Executive |
|
South Africa |
Ministry of Labour |
|
Sweden |
National Chemicals Inspectorate |
International organizations/programmes
World Health Organization (WHO)
International Labour Office (ILO)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
UN ECOSOC Committee of Experts on Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN CETDG)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Regional bodies
Commission of the European Union (EU)
Non-governmental international organizations
International Council of Chemical Associations (Japan, Canada, United States, Australia, Europe)
International Council on Metals and the Environment (ICME)
International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA)
International Organization of Employers (IOE)
Hazardous Materials Advisory Council (HMAC)
International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mines and General Workers' Union (ICEM)
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
International Organization of Consumers Unions (IOCU)
International Social Security Association (ISSA)
Focal points
OECD Health hazards and danger to the environment
UN CETDG/ILO Physical hazards (reactive and flammable materials)
ILO Hazard communication
Secretariat
International Labour Office, Occupational Safety and Health Branch
* * *
Participation in the OECD Advisory Group on
Harmonization of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
|
Country |
Institution |
|
Australia |
Commonwealth Environment Protection Agency -- Worksafe Australia |
|
Austria |
Federal Environment Agency |
|
Belgium |
Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology |
|
Canada |
Environment Canada and Health Canada |
|
Czech Republic |
Ministry of Environment |
|
Denmark |
Danish Environmental Protection Agency |
|
Finland |
National Board of Waters and Environment and Ministry of Social Affairs and Health |
|
France |
Ministry of Environment |
|
Germany |
Institute for Health Protection of Consumers and Veterinary Medicine, Federal Environment Agency, Ministry of Environment |
|
Greece |
Division of Environment |
|
Hungary |
Ministry of Environment |
|
Ireland |
Health and Safety Authority |
|
Italy |
Institute of Health |
|
Japan |
Environment Agency |
|
Mexico |
Ministry of Social Development |
|
Netherlands |
Ministry of Welfare, Health and Cultural Affairs, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, TNO |
|
Norway |
Pollution Control Authority, National Institute of Public Health and Institute of Cancer Research |
|
Spain |
Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Health and Consumers |
|
Sweden |
National Chemicals Inspectorate and Rescue Services Agency |
|
Switzerland |
Federal Office of Environment, Forests and Landscape |
|
Turkey |
Poison Research Department |
|
United Kingdom |
Department of Environment, Health and Safety Executive and Department of Transport |
|
United States |
Environment Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Food and Drug Administration, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences |
|
International bodies |
ILO, IMO, UN CETDG, IPCS (WHO, ILO, UNEP), IRPTC (UNEP), EC |
|
Industry (BIAC) |
ICME, Eurométaux, CEFIC, ECETOC, ICCA, Shell, Exxon, Hoechst |
|
Trade unions |
ICEM (TUAC) |
* * *
Participation in the UN ECOSOC Committee of Experts on Transport of Dangerous Goods and the ILO/CETDG Working Groups on harmonization of criteria for physical hazards
(based on attendance at the 19th Session, December 1996)
Countries with right to vote
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States.
Countries with observer status
Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Islamic Republic of Iran, Panama, Portugal, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia and Ukraine participated in accordance with rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure of the Economic and Social Council.
UN specialized agencies and programmes
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), World Health Organization (WHO).
Intergovernmental organizations
European Commission (EC), International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO), Central Office for International Carriage by Rail (OCTI), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Committee of the Organization for Co-operation between Railways (OSZhD).
Non-governmental organizations
European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), European Confederation of Paint, Printing Ink and Artists' Colours Manufacturers' Associations (CEPE), European Industrial Gases Association (EIGA), European Fertilizer Manufacturers' Association (EFMA), Federation of European Aerosol Association (FEA), Hazardous Materials Advisory Council (HMAC), International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Council of Intermediate Bulk Container Associations (ICIBCA), International Confederation of Drum Reconditioners (ICDR), International Road Transport Union (IRU), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), European Portable Tank Association/Tank Container Association (EPTA/TCA).