1. Globally Harmonised System of Classification & Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)

2. What is the Globally Harmonised System?
The GHS is a single internationally agreed system of chemical classification & hazard communication through labelling and safety data sheets
The GHS provides three criteria for the classification of hazards
Physical hazards such as flammable liquids
Health hazards such as eye irritation
Environmental hazards such as aquatic toxicity

3. GHS provides internationally consistent communication
Why GHS? The GHS updates the way in which information about the hazards of chemicals and precautions necessary to ensure safe storage, handling and disposal, is conveyed to users of chemicals. The GHS uses pictograms, signal words*, and hazard and precautionary statements to communicate this information. The GHS does not change your general duties relating to the management of hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
GHS provides internationally consistent communication
International adoption but now ratified in: EU
USA & Canada (not for agvet chemicals)
China, Korea
Japan (not for agvet chemicals)
Australia since 1 January 2017
*Agvet chemicals are exempt from requiring GHS pictograms & signal words in Australia, which will be further explained in this presentation

4. Changes will impact on all
Who is affected by the changes?
Changes will impact on all
Manufacturers
Suppliers (Agsafe reseller members)
Users of agvet chemical inputs
COMMENCED IN AUSTRALIA 1 JANUARY 2017
Applies to all chemicals registered for use under APVMA
Manufacturers, importers and suppliers of hazardous chemicals will be the most affected by the introduction of the GHS. Manufacturers and importers are responsible for ensuring correct GHS labels, statements and SDS are prepared for hazardous chemicals.
Resellers of agvet chemicals have a duty to supply only correctly labelled chemical products to end- users. Under GHS, labels and SDS have changed, so it is your responsibility to understand what you need to do following the introduction of GHS.
Suppliers & end users of hazardous chemicals must only accept products manufactured on or after 1 January 2017 which are classified and labelled in accordance with GHS. Products manufactured prior to 1 January 2017 can continue to have existing NOHSC/ADG labelling or SDS and be sold.
End users of hazardous chemicals are effected to a lesser extent. Users of hazardous chemicals are not required to re-label or dispose of existing stock.

5. GHS communications
The GHS updates the way in which information about the hazards of chemicals and any precautions necessary to ensure safe storage, handling and disposal, is conveyed to users. The GHS uses pictograms, signal words, and hazard and precautionary statements to communicate this information.
Pictograms
There are nine hazard pictograms in the GHS which represent the
physical, health and environmental hazards.
Signal Words
The GHS uses ‘Danger’ and ‘Warning’ as signal words to indicate the relative level of severity of a hazard. ‘Danger’ is used for the more severe or a significant hazard, while ‘Warning’ is used for the less severe hazards.
Signal Words are not to be confused with the Signal Heading such as ‘Caution’ & ‘Dangerous Poison’ located at the top of the label.
Hazard & Precautionary Statements*
Hazard statements are assigned to a class and category that describes the nature of the hazard including, where appropriate, the degree of hazard
*IMPORTANT! Pictograms and Signal Words are not mandatory on crop protection or veterinary medicine labels or SDS.
Hazard & precautionary statements are only required when equivalent information is not already included on the APVMA label.
Do not eat, drink or smoke when handling product
Danger! May be harmful if swallowed

6. GHS criteria
Under GHS there are three criteria under which chemical products are classified: physical, health & environmental
Physical
Explosives, flammable liquids, oxidizing liquids or solids
Health
Acute toxicity, can cause cancer, skin corrosion or irritation
Environmental
Acute aquatic toxicity & chronic aquatic toxicity

7. GHS pictograms
There are nine hazard pictograms in the GHS which represent the physical, health and environmental hazards.
Pictograms on labels and SDS are not mandatory on crop protection or veterinary medicine products.
Do not confuse these pictograms with Dangerous Goods Diamonds – they do not replace DG diamonds for storage or transport.

8. Legislation before GHS
Prior to GHS being officially implemented in 2017, chemical products were labelled under the National Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Substances (NOHSC).
Under that Code, labels and SDS carried phrases categorized into “Risk” and “Safety”
Risk phrases conveyed a general description of the hazard to supplement the DG class and subsidiary risk and signal word. These phrases gave notice of the hazards present with the normal, or reasonably foreseeable, handling or use of the substance. Eg. ‘Flammable’ & ‘Harmful if swallowed’
Safety phrases provided information on safe storage, handling and personal protection. Eg. ‘Toxic by inhalation’ & ‘Irritating to eyes’
Risk and safety phrases no longer exist under GHS.

9. Hazard & precautionary statements
Hazard and precautionary statements replace the ‘risk’ and ‘safety’ phrases required under previous laws.
Hazard statements provide a description of the hazard relating to the hazardous chemical. It may also include if appropriate the degree of hazard.
Precautionary statements describe the recommended measures that should be taken to minimise or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure, or improper storage or handling of a hazardous chemical.
There are five types of precautionary statement – general, prevention, response, storage and disposal. 
GHS statements do not have to be added to labels for agvet chemical products where the statements are inconsistent with, or duplicate, APVMA approved label statements

10. Agvet chemical exemptions
GHS statements are not required to be added to labels for agvet chemical products where the statements are inconsistent with, or duplicate, APVMA approved label statements.
Pictograms under GHS are not required to be added to market labels for agvet chemical products.
Veterinary chemical products do not require GHS statements where they are listed under Schedule 4 (restricted animal medicines) if they are supplied in a form and packaging consistent with direct administration to animals and not included in feed or Schedule 8 (controlled drugs) of the Poisons Standard.
Agvet chemical products manufactured on or before 31 December 2016 are not required to include GHS statements on their market labels. However each state has made individual decisions on implementation of GHS (detailed later in presentation). You can also refer to your state-based authority for more information.
For agvet chemicals to be GHS compliant they require:
SDS based on GHS classification, PLUS
A label which incorporates GHS hazard and precautionary statements based on GHS classification, which are not already incorporated in the APVMA approved label.

11. GHS symbols do not replace Dangerous Goods symbols
You must continue to use DG diamonds when storage of chemicals is over placarding quantities. You must also comply with the Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code and relevant state and territory transport laws for the transport of dangerous goods by road and rail.
GHS symbols are not interchangeable with Dangerous Goods symbols. The GHS is based on hazard rather than risk which means that for some chemicals the labels may be vastly different. This does not mean that the substance has become more or less toxic.
This makes it difficult to compare the GHS and ADG systems.

12. GHS exemptions around Australia 2017
In December 2016 a number of extensions were put in place to assist resellers and suppliers to continue to sell existing product not labelled according to GHS. NT
Exemption for resellers supplying APVMA-labelled agvet products manufactured prior to 1 Jan 2017
QLD
Exemption for resellers supplying APVMA-labelled products manufactured prior to 1 Jan 2017 WA
Expected to introduce new WHS regulations sometime in 2017, however if businesses export/supply to other states or territories that have implemented GHS on 1 Jan 2017, they will need to be GHS compliant by this date SA
Exemption for resellers supplying APVMA-labelled products manufactured prior to 1 Jan 2017
NSW
Exemption for resellers supplying APVMA-labelled agvet products manufactured prior to 1 Jan 2018
ACT
Not GHS aligned. Legislation expected Currently Dangerous Substances Act GHS Compulsory in surrounding NSW
VIC
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 from 1 July Incorporates an exemption for resellers supplying APVMA-labelled agvet products manufactured prior to 1 Jan 2017
TAS
Exemption for resellers supplying products chemicals manufactured or imported prior to 1 Jan 2018, with an expiry date of 31 Dec 2018

13. Prepare for full implementation of GHS
Be prepared and have a plan
Educate employees on GHS classifications
Contact manufacturer for products needing re-labelling if non-compliant & manufactured after 1 Jan 2017
In TAS prioritise non-GHS labelled product for sale prior to the end of 2017

14. In summary
GHS came into effect on 1 January 2017, however there are some exemptions to manage implementation in relation to agvet chemicals. See your state-based regulator for more information
GHS Pictograms and Signal Words are not mandatory on the agvet chemical label and do not replace placarding for storage and transport of dangerous goods
Hazard and precaution statements have replaced “Risk” and “Safety” phrases on SDS, but are not required on the APVMA-approved label where it contradicts existing statements or where statements convey the same message

15. SafeWork Australia information
Codes of practice
Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals
Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals
Managing the Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
Guidance material
Classification of Hazardous Chemicals under the WHS Regulations
Fact sheets
Classifications and Labelling for Workplace Hazardous Chemicals (poster)
Understanding Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals
Understanding Hazardous Chemical Labels
See or your state/territory based agency for further GHS publications

16. Useful GHS regulatory sources
NSW
VIC
TAS
QLD SA
ACT NT WA

17. Agsafe resources Posters & fact sheets
Contact Agsafe directly to find out more:

18. Glossary
APVMA: Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. APVMA is the government authority responsible for registration of all agvet chemical products in the Australian marketplace.
PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENT: phrase (and/or pictogram) describing recommended measures that should be taken to minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to a hazardous product, or improper storage or handling of a hazardous product. Product identifier is the name or number used for a hazardous product on a label or in the SDS. A unique means for the product user to identify a substance or mixture in a particular use setting (e.g. transport, consumer or workplace).
GHS: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.
HAZARD STATEMENT: statement assigned to a hazard class and category describing the nature of the hazards of a hazardous product, including, where appropriate, the degree of hazard.
PICTOGRAM: graphical composition that may include a symbol plus other graphic elements, such as a border, background pattern or colour to convey specific information.
SDS: Safety Data Sheet, also known as Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
Signal word: indicates level of severity of the hazard and alerts reader to a potential hazard on the label. The GHS uses ‘Danger’ & ‘Warning’. Signal words are not mandatory on labels.