Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals - Implementation

Implementation

The adoption of the GHS is expected to facilitate international trade by increasing consistency between the laws in different countries that currently have different hazard communication requirements. There is no set international implementation schedule for the GHS. The goal of the United Nations was broad international adoption by 2008. Different countries will require different time frames to update current regulations or implement new ones.

GHS adoption by country:

• Australia: In 2012, adopted regulation for GHS implementation, setting January 1, 2017 as the GHS implementation deadline.
• Brazil: Established an implementation deadline of February 2011 for substances and June 2015 for mixtures.
• Canada: Has not yet proposed GHS implementation dates.
• China: Established the GHS implementation deadline of December 1, 2011.
• European Union: Published regulation for GHS implementation on December 31, 2008. The deadline for substance classification was December 1, 2010. For mixtures, the deadline for implementation is June 1, 2015.
• Japan: Established the GHS implementation deadline of December 31, 2010 for products containing one of 640 designated substances.
• Korea: Established the GHS implementation deadline of July 1, 2013.
• United States: Published the final rule on March 26, 2012 for implementation of GHS. The final rule requires product manufacturers to adopt the standard by June 1, 2015 and product distributors to adopt the standard by December 1, 2015. Workers must be trained by December 1, 2013.