New Zealand update the current hazard classification system for hazardous substances

Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) proposal to update the current hazard classification system for hazardous substances to Revision 7 (2017) of the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS 7). This would be achieved by issuing a new Hazard Classification Notice and would also require several other EPA notices to be amended, including those which set requirements for labelling, safety data sheets, and packaging of chemical substances.

The EPA's second proposal related to updating the current hazard classification system  to GHS 7 intends to:

• update existing individual hazardous substance approvals to convert their current HSNO hazard classifications to GHS hazard classifications
• update group standards to convert their current HSNO hazard classifications to GHS hazard classifications, and also to make some minor changes to a small number of group standards (note group standards are approvals for a group of hazardous substances of a similar nature, type or use)
• revoke a number of duplicate hazardous substance approvals as their approvals can be managed by one or more group standards
• update the controls on hazardous substance approvals issued before 1 December 2017 to bring them into line with the reforms introduced with the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 which came into force on that date

·         make available the proposed drafts of the new Hazard Classification Notice and amended Labelling, Safety Data Sheets, Packaging, Disposal, Hazardous Property Controls and Importers and Manufacturers Notices.

Products covered : all chemical substances

HS Code: 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

Proposed date of adoption: The EPA is intending to make the new and amended EPA Notices and the new set of group standards available on the EPA website in October 2020.

Proposed date of entry into force: The proposal is for the new Hazard Classification Notice, the six amended notices, and the new set of group standards to come into force in April 2021.

Final date for comments: 7 August 2020

If the Proposal/Notification/Regulation will affect your International Business please send us your representation with facts and figures , so that these can be taken up suitably.