Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) will replace a majority of national chemical regulations over the coming years. Currently under its third revision since its first publication in 2005 GHS will harmonize: 

• Hazard classification criteria worldwide: physical, health and environmental hazards.
• The SDS format – 16 sections.
• Signal words: Danger - Warning.
• Hazard statements describing the nature and degree of hazard (e.g.: Harmful to aquatic life – Highly flammable liquid and vapor).
• Precautionary statements: 4 types of measures for prevention, response, storage and disposal.
• Hazard pictograms (square set at a point, black symbol, white background, red border).

There are many activities that will be required to ‘comply in time' with the changing regulations as each country implements GHS, such as: 

• Learn the nuances of country-specific regulations
• Revise all substances classifications
• Execute rules to produce, review and approve compliant documents
• Re-label your containers, barrels and drums

Will you be ready for this new set of regulations? Do you have the internal bandwidth and expertise to ensure you don't hit a brick wall on the enforcement date?

Atrion International facilitates a smooth transition toward GHS by: 

• Providing software and data solutions allowing productive and automated creation of SDS and labels in compliance with GHS legislation
• Monitoring GHS adoption by different countries ensuring our clients meet their legal obligations in a timely fashion
• Integrating country specific interpretation of GHS, as well as translations for hazard statements, precautionary statements and more than 6,000 phrases used on SDS, translated in over 40 languages
• Offering forums for experts within our client base to share their practical experiences with GHS
• Allowing compliance through services, where customers can outsource the production of their SDSs and labels by experienced and highly trained authors.