05/09/2008
The UN's Globally Harmonised System (GHS) on the classification, labelling and packaging of hazardous substances is to be incorporated into EU law after MEPs reached an "acceptable compromise".

The compromise which has been agreed on 3 September 2008 between representatives of the Parliament and the Council, aims to implement the GHS system into EU legislation. The new regulation will replace the existing EU directives on classification and labelling of substances which set forth an extensive system (3 key directives), but the current rules and the GHS are conceptually similar.

The proposal aims to maintain the current level of environment and health protection, to keep the scope of the classification and labelling rules as close as possible to the existing EU system and to ensure a smooth transition to a new system based on GHS. The reclassification and labelling of most substances must be completed by 1 December 2010 for substances and 1 June 2015 for mixtures. The current Directives on classification, labelling and packaging will be repealed on 1 June 2015. During a transitory period both systems will be applied.

The regulation:
- harmonises the classification, labelling and packaging rules for substances and mixtures;
- obliges enterprises to classify their substances and mixtures themselves and to notify the classifications;
- establishes a harmonised list of substances classified at Community level in Annex VI;
- establishes a classification and labelling inventory, made up of all notifications and harmonised classifications referred to above.

In the negotiations, MEPs managed to include several changes to the Commission's proposals wanting to guarantee a proper balance between the interests of consumers, the environment and industry: Member States shall appoint a body or bodies responsible for receiving information for formulating preventative and curative measures, in particular in case of emergency health response. Three years after entry into force the Commission shall assess possibility to harmonise information.

Source: EP press release