3^rd International Fresenius GHS Conference "Implementing the CLP Regulation"

Experts met from 24 to 25 November 2011 in Mainz/Germany to discuss the implementing and effects of GHS

Dortmund, Mainz (Germany), 6 December 2011

The new Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP-Regulation) has been in force for almost a year now. The implementation of the CLP Regulation adapts European legislation to the GHS (Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals). Professionals from Product Safety, Product Stewardship and Regulatory Affairs fields met from 24 to 25 November 2011 in Mainz (Germany) on the 3rd International Fresenius GHS Conference "Implementing the CLP Regulation".

GHS and CLP would not only form the basis for communication of knowledge on hazardous properties of a substance or preparation, but also form the basis of several management instruments, said Jan van der Kolk (Eco Conseil, The Netherlands).

Repercussions on transport and hazardous waste

Other management instruments in the European Union directly or indirectly linked to the GHS/CLP would be those for transport, hazardous waste and establishments storing and handling hazardous chemicals as well as export to third countries, van der Kolk explained. The EU would have aligned its internal instruments for transport to broader international agreements in directive 2008/68/EC on the inland transport of dangerous goods. These agreements would all based on the UN system of TGD, Transport of Dangerous Goods, van der Kolk said. He indicated that the EU might give specific regulations for specific situations and substances, all spelled out in the directive.

The EU also regulates hazardous waste under directive 2008/98/EC. The definitions of hazard from the CLP Regulation and the labelling requirements apply to hazardous waste, van der Kolk said. Major principles regarding hazardous waste include a hierarchy for prevention, re-use or recycling rather than disposal, application of minimum standards, delivery of permits and registration, with specific waste management plans. CLP is also applicable to hazardous waste for export, in agreement with the Basel Convention, the expert concluded.

Main challenges of implementing the CLP Regulation

As a consequence of the CLP-Regulation there would have been striking modifications of the labelling elements, said Sabine Darschnik (German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, BAuA). White pictograms with black symbols and a red frame replace the well known orange hazard symbols. Also classification elements would have changed. Darschnik described that under the CLP-Regulation hazard classes and hazard categories are used to address characteristic and intensity of the different dangerous qualities of chemicals. The formerly used indications of danger like "toxic" or "corrosive" would replaced by the signalwords "danger" or "warning". The most significant challenge however results from the impacts of the CLP-Regulation on the classification of mixtures. Depending on the content of acute toxic or corrosive ingredients mixtures would have to be re-evaluated using expert knowledge, the scientific adviser said.

Implementing the GHS

The Globally Harmonized System for the Classification of Chemicals (GHS) was developed based on the premise of harmonizing existing system for the classification and labelling of chemicals. It would not be a model regulation and could not be adopted by countries as regulatory text, Paul W. Brigandi (CGI Technology and Solutions Inc., USA) said. Competent authorities must view the GHS Purple Book as a framework that contains a series of building blocks (e.g., hazard classes and categories, classification criteria, label and hazard communication elements). This could be implemented into existing regulatory schemes, as appropriate, to meet the needs of the target audience, the executive consultant recommends..

The complete Fresenius conference documentation including scripts from all the presentations can be purchased at the Akademie Fresenius for 295,00 € (plus VAT) or here.

Contact details:

Die Akademie Fresenius GmbH
Benita Selle

Alter Hellweg 46
44379 Dortmund
Germany

Phone +49 231 75896-77
Fax +49 231 75896-53
E-Mail bselle@akademie-fresenius.de
Internet www.akademie-fresenius.com

3rd International Fresenius GHS Conference "Implementing the CLP Regulation"

Experts met from 24 to 25 November 2011 in Mainz/Germany to discuss the implementing and effects of GHS

Contact details:

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3^rd International Fresenius GHS Conference "Implementing the CLP Regulation"