Chemicals must be classified and labelled to GHS Criteria

Agricultural chemicals registered with the APVMA must be classified and labelled to GHS criteria. Product made from 1 January 2017 must have compliant labels and SDS.

GHS stands for Globally Harmonised System. It was developed by the United Nations to harmonise chemical classification and hazard communication internationally.

Who is responsible?

Manufacturers, importers and suppliers of workplace chemicals are responsible for ensuring products are correctly labelled and that the SDS is compliant.

–        The model work health and safety laws place a duty on manufacturers and importers of chemicals supplied to a workplace, to determine if the chemicals are hazardous and then to ensure labels and SDS are correct.

–        Suppliers must only supply compliant products

–        End users must only accept compliant product.

Although GHS becomes mandatory on 1 January 2017 under the model laws, Victoria, Western Australia and the ACT haven’t yet mandated use of the GHS. As products are usually distributed across the country it would be wise for all products to be compliant with GHS.

GHS doesn’t replace the Australian Dangerous Good (ADG) Code. You must continue to comply with the ADG code for transport by road and rail. For use in the workplace dangerous goods must also meet the GHS requirements.

The APVMA doesn’t check GHS labelling.

Just like DG labelling, the APVMA doesn’t register GHS labelling. This means they won’t check whether you have got it right. Another problem is that there is some flexibility in the Code of Practice for Labelling of workplace hazardous chemicals.

If you are unsure of your responsibilities and whether your labels and SDS comply with the GHS, please talk to us at Checkbox 3D.