China SAWS issues the revised Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals (2015)

The State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) of China has finally published its revised Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals (2015 version) on its website. The new Catalogue includes 2,828 entries covering more than 2,800 hazardous substances and some mixtures. Some entries are generic entries representing a group of substances with similar hazards. The Catalogue will be effective from 1 May 2015.

In the article below, we have analyzed the main changes and impacts of the new Chinese Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals:
http://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/China/China_Catalogue_of_Hazardous_Chemicals.html

It shall be noted that not every hazardous chemical is treated the same in the Catalogue. Some hazardous chemicals in the Catalogue are subject to additional registration and reporting requirements.

• New Substances
• Hazardous Chemicals
• Highly Toxic Chemicals
• Explosives Precursors
• Priority Hazardous Chemicals for Environmental Management
• Toxic Chemicals Restricted from Export/Import
• Drug Precursor Chemicals
• Chemical Weapons Precursors

- See more at: http://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/China/chemical_regulations.html

Chemical Regulatory Newsletter Vol. 3 - March 2015

On 19 Feb 2015, the Ministry of Industry in Thailand published its new regulation B.E. 2558 on the notification of the production and import of hazardous substances in Government gazette. The regulation comes into force immediately.

The regulation requires manufacturers and importers of hazardous chemicals supplied in quantities over 1 ton per year to notify their hazardous chemicals to the Department of Industrial Works (DIW) for the purpose of building a national chemical inventory in Thailand. We have taken a deep look at this new regulation and translated B.E.2558 and notification form into English to give you a quick understanding of its regulatory requirements. 

• New Chemical Regulations in Thailand: Chemical Inventory Notification Starts.

More News & Updates from CHEMSAFETYPRO

A GHS Quiz That 80% of People Fail.
24 Feb 2015
We have designed a quiz to determine whether you are a GHS expert or not. This anonymous and free quiz usually takes less than 5 mins (10 questions in total). Take the quiz here. Please note that this quiz is not suitable for beginners. If you could pass this test (80% score), please join us because there is nothing about GHS we can share now.

A Great TDG Guide That You Cannot Miss. 
17 Feb 2015
Are you looking for a TDG guide full of pictures and examples? This is the guide you need that could save your time on learning the UN Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.

How to Calculate German Water Hazard Class (WGK)?
13 Feb 2015
Lots of people have asked us about how to calculate German Water Hazard Class (WGK) for chemicals supplied to Germany because the WGK is usually required in the section 15 of SDSs. We have prepared an easy step-to-step guide to address this issue. 

What Changes to Expect from GHS Rev. 6?
13 Feb 2015
GHS Purple Book is updated every two years. This year is the year for GHS Rev.6. The Committee of Experts on TDG and GHS of the UNECE has published a report on the agreed amendments to the 5th revised edition of GHS. Read more.

How to Comply with Swiss Chemical Regulations
13 Feb 2015
Since Switzerland is not a member of the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), EU REACH regulation does not apply here. Switzerland has its own chemical regulation Chemical Ordinance (ChemO) adopting REACH-like registration requirements (on new substances only). For those who supply chemicals (i.e, adhesives, solvents) and articles to Switzerland, it is also highly recommended that you read Swiss Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem) which sets chemical restriction conditions for lots of chemicals and articles.

Thailand Chemical Inventory Notification Starts - March 2015

On 19 Feb 2015, the Ministry of Industry in Thailand published its new regulation B.E. 2558 on the notification of the production and import of hazardous substances in Government gazette. The regulation comes into force immediately on the same day.

The main purpose of this regulation is to build a national inventory of hazardous chemicals in Thailand. Manufacturers and importers of hazardous substances exceeding 1 ton per year are now required to notify their hazardous substances to the Department of Industrial Works (DIW) via DIW's online system. The notification shall be submitted within 60 days from the date of manufacture or importation (only once). This notification is also called Thailand Chemical Inventory Notification.

More info: http://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/Thailand/Thailand_Hazardous_Substance_Act.html

What is New in Canada WHMIS 2015?

On 11 Feb 2015, Canada finally published its long-awaited Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) which modified its Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) to incorporate the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) for workplace chemicals.

Manufacturers or importers will be required to classify and label hazardous chemicals in accordance with the new GHS-based hazard communication system (called WHMIS 2015) from 1 June 2017. In this article, we have analyzed chemical classification, labelling and SDS requirements in WHIMS 2015 and compared it with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standards (HCS 2012) in the United States.

Transitional Periods of WHMIS 2015/Canada GHS

GHS will be implemented in Canada in three phases. Different deadlines apply to manufacturers/importers, distributors and employers. The picture below summarizes the transitional period for the implementation of WHMIS 2015.

 If you are new to GHS, please also read the following basic GHS topics:

Introduction to GHS

GHS Hazard Class and Hazard Category

GHS Signal Word

GHS Pictogram

GHS Hazard Statement

GHS Precautionary Statement

GHS Label Element

GHS Safety Data Sheet

UN GHS Purple Book

Tactile danger warning labels for chemicals

A tactile danger warning is normally a small raised triangle(see example below). The purpose is to alert the blind and the partially sighted that they are handling a dangerous chemical.


According to EU CLP regulation, tactile danger warning labels are required for chemical sold to the general public and classified for acute toxicity, skin corrosion, germ cell mutagenicity category 2, carcinogenicity category 2, reproductive toxicity category 2, respiratory sensitisation, or Stot, categories 1 and 2, aspiration hazard, or flammable gases, liquids and solids in categories 1 and 2 according to GHS.


 - See more at: http://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/EU/CLP_Regulation_EC_No_1272_2008.html

Child-resistant fastenings | special rules on labeling of chemicals.

According to EU CLP regulation, the following chemical products that are sold to the general public must have a child-resistant fastenings label. 

For hazardous chemicals sold to the general public and classified with acute toxicity, categories 1 to 3, STOT- single exposure category 1, STOP- repeated exposure category 1, skin corrosion category 1 or aspiration hazard;

For a substance or mixture containing more than 3% methanol or 1% dichloromethane and sold to the general public;

For more info about child-resistant fastenings, please refer:
Special Rules for Labelling and Packaging of Chemicals under CLP Regulation

Top 10 Differences between K-REACH Regulation and EU REACH Regulation!

2015 is a key implementation year for K-REACH regulation. This is just another new important REACH-like chemical regulation which is not strange to many of us who have dealt with EU REACH regulation before. Despite many similarities, K-REACH regulation and EU REACH regulation are different in many aspects. In this article, we have summarized the top 10 differences between K-REACH regulation and EU REACH to help you understand K-REACH's regulatory requirements better.

K-REACH Regulation and EU REACH Comparison

http://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/Korea/Difference_between_K-REACH_and_EU_REACH.html

What is New? Top 10 Differences between Taiwan TCSCA and EU REACH Compared

Taiwan TCSCA is another new important REACH-like chemical regulation that imitates EU REACH regulation. Despite many similarities, Taiwan TCSCA and EU REACH are different in many aspects. In this article, we have summarized the top 10 differences between Taiwan TCSCA and EU REACH to help you comply with TCSCA.

GHS Revision 6 is Coming!

The 6th revised edition of GHS (GHS revision 6) is about to be published soon in 2015.  The UNECE has recently published a report on the agreed amendments to the 5th revised edition of GHS. The report summarizes what changes are going to be included in GHS revision. 6

More Info
GHS revision 6