Labelling

The UN's Globally Harmonised System (GHS) on the classification, labelling and packaging of hazardous substances is to be incorporated into EU law after MEPs reached an "acceptable compromise".

The new regulation will replace existing EU directives on classification and labelling of substances.

The aim of the GHS system is to enable products to be judged on their physical hazards and toxicity and to provide them with suitable labelling and information on safety measures, which could be through labels, hazard pictograms and words such as 'Danger' or 'Warning'.

As with the current legislation, the proposed new regulation is intended to be primarily a self-classification system for businesses.

The regulation is in line with Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (Reach) legislation, although "some small amendments" to do with classification and labelling will have to be made.

Chemical Industries Association head of products and health, Claudine Albersammer, said packaging businesses that use hazardous substances in inks and coatings will have to reclassify and label them by 1 December 2012.

If they use mixtures, they will have until 1 June 2015 for reclassification and labelling.

"This is a good first step in a long journey towards global harmonisation of the classification and labelling of chemicals," said Albersammer.

"Eventually we will have one set of hazardous chemical logos worldwide and the EU will be one of the first regions to have these in place."

European parliament rapporteur Amalia Sartori said the new rules "give the possibility to maintain the EU's international commitments, provide consistency between EU and UN legislation and provide for better consumer protection".

It is also expected to help EU companies to become more competitive.