11/07/2008
On 27 June 2008, the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) responsible for preparing the work of the Council of the European Union, reached an agreement on a future regulation that would adapt European legislation to the Global Harmonized System (GHS).

The GHS was founded by the United Nations to ensure the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals according to the same criteria worldwide.

The proposal for a GHS-compliant European regulation still has to be adopted by the European Parliament. The first reading in the EP has been scheduled for
September 3, 2008.

After a transitional period, the new legislation will replace existing Community rules on classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals (Directive 67/548/EEC for dangerous chemicals and Directive 1999/45/EEC for dangerous preparations).  In the EU, the GHS should become binding on 1 December 2010 for substances and 1 June 2015 for mixtures.

• The agreement adopted by COREPER