Advocacy & Lobbying
Globally Harmonised System
July 2023
In 2020, the NZ-EPA formally announced that New Zealand would be adopting GHS v7 (which was published in 2017), for chemical classification and labelling. They adopted most of the components, although they did drop the Category 5 Acute Toxicity | Category 3 Skin irritation classifications.
The GHS is the internationally agreed system developed by the United Nations to classify chemicals and communicate their hazards through labels and safety data sheets. It should be noted that whilst the GHS exists, individual countries are able to pick and choose which parts they adopt locally, so not all overseas classifications will automatically apply in New Zealand
New Zealand’s classification system was implemented in 2001 via the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms legislation and originally was based on a pre-published version of GHS, so this move in 2020 brought New Zealand back into line with the majority of its trading partners.
The Global Harmonised System is yet another reason where being a member of the World Coatings Council is a major benefit to the NZPMA. We are too small an Association to be represented at the UN, however the WCC sends at least one person to these meetings, ensuring that the industry is being represented. All WCC members then receive summaries of all the meetings so we know what changes may be heading 'Downunder'.
If there are any issues that start coming up, then we can also talk to the NZ government representatives who also attend these meetings to get their support.
UN Subcommittee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
In the 1990s, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe embarked on a journey to design a universal chemical classification system for the entire world. It was believed that a universal chemical classification system would help to decrease the number of accidents in the workplace and home environments resulting from improper use of chemical products. It was also believed that a universal chemical classification system would decrease the cost of doing business around the world because in theory one label could be used for the same product sold in many different countries.
The development and maintenance of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) was formally commissioned by the United Nations and assigned to the Subcommittee of Experts on the GHS (UNSCEGHS).
As noted above, the reasons for setting the objective of harmonization were many. The UNSCEGHS operates with the goal that, when fully implemented, the GHS will:
Enhance the protection of human health and the environment by providing an internationally comprehensible system for hazard communication;
Provide a recognised framework for those countries without an existing system;
Reduce the need for testing and evaluation of chemicals; and
Facilitate international trade in chemicals whose hazards have been properly assessed and identified on an international basis.
The World Coatings Council continues to send at least one representative to the UNSCEGHS Meetings held twice annually in Geneva, Switzerland. At these meetings, the council’s representatives get a chance to meet the environmental, health, and safety representatives from member countries who work on each revision of the GHS. The council can submit white papers to support its member associations’ viewpoints on certain technical issues before the UNSCEGHS. Input from council representatives has been well-received by the UNSCEGHS.
For more information:
https://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_welcome_e.html
