GHS7 Hazardous Substances
Updated: Dec 17, 2021
The seventh revised edition of the Global Harmonised System (GHS7) has been adopted as New Zealand’s official hazard classification system. It takes effect from the 30th April 2021.
GHS7 is an international hazard classification system for chemicals created by the United Nations. The classifications are communicated on labels and Safety Data Sheets, including the safe way to store, use and dispose of chemicals.
It has been adopted by more than 50 countries, including all of New Zealand’s
major trading partners.
Major Changes
These changes will phase in over a prior of 4 years (30th April 2021 - 30th April 2025) at which time it will become regulatory requirement.
All new hazardous substance products for approval to be licensed in NZ after April 2021, are required to be aligned to the GHS7 worldwide standard instead of the 2001 HASNO model we are currently familiar with.
The adoption of GHS7 is a generalised comment only, possibly 5% or so of NZ’s classification approach will be retained.
GHS7 will impact classifications and communications in the workplace, or safety data sheets, product labelling for use and retail sale products.
Pictograms will also have some changes.
Many products produced by worldwide chemical suppliers already cater for GHS7 requirements.
What do the changes look like?
We are still awaiting for more clarity. This will involve sure and steady change as
hazardous substances product classification and how it impacts society and business
requirements is a complicated area.
Classes
The classes we know and like will be phased out (classes 1 - 9). These will be replaced
by only 3 classes: Class 1: Physical Hazards; Class 2: Health Hazards; Class 3:
Environmental Hazards.
Class 1: Physical Hazards = Current Class 1 to Class 5 Oxidizers
Class 2: Health Hazards = Current Class 6 to 8 (clarification on radiation is still to
come, as this falls under Radiation Safety Act 2016)
Class 3: Environmental Hazards = Current Class 9 Ecotoxic
For more information regarding these classes:
https://epa.govt.nz/industry-areas/hazardous-substances/rules-for-hazardoussubstances/hazardous-substances-classification-codes/
Hazard Communications
A standardisation of all terms and definitions to being exactly the same as fixed