Source: SPECIALIST PRINTING WORLDWIDE : ISSUE 2: 2007
Sem Seabourne outlines the new classification, packaging and labelling system to be used in the EU for chemical products and mixtures
In June the European Commission adopted a proposal for changing the classification, packaging and labelling system used in the European Union for chemical products and mixtures. The new proposal for regulation was published at the end of June and seeks to align the European system for classifying, labelling and packaging chemical products with the UN Globally Harmonised System, known as GHS.
This will result in new classification criteria, e.g. the threshold at which a chemical becomes toxic or harmful by inhalation, with new hazard symbols and labelling phrases. The new regulation will enact the requirement in the REACH (Registration Evaluation & Authorisation of Chemicals) for this activity related to notification of classifications, and the creation of an inventory of harmonised classifications and labelling.