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Global harmonized system.
After more than a decade of work, the new global system, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), that is able to protect people from the mismanagement of chemicals, classify them according to their hazard and create a labelling system based on pictograms universally understandable, has been adopted in December 2002 in Geneva. There were many individuals involved, from a multitude of countries, international organizations, and stakeholder organizations. Their work spanned a wide range of expertise, from toxicology to fire protection, and ultimately required extensive goodwill and the willingness to compromise, in order to achieve this system.
This GHS system is now available for worldwide implementation. This system will be kept dynamic, regularly revised and made more efficient as experience is gained in its implementation. While national or regional governments are the primary audiences for the GHS document, it also contains sufficient context and guidance for those in industry who will ultimately be implementing the national requirements which will be introduced.
Links:
Global harmonized system official text.
GHS presentation.
GHS pictograms.
GHS current activities.
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