In this article, CHEMTREC provides a snapshot of the complex emergency telephone number requirements around the world and points out the challenges of complying with ever-changing supply and transport requirements for emergency response provision.

On February 15, this year, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published an announcement that national enforcement authorities have started compliance inspections (REF-11) on safety data sheets (SDS) for chemicals sold on the EU market. This project was prepared in 2022 and the main purpose is to evaluate whether SDSs have been updated in compliance with the new requirements of Annex II of REACH. These inspections will be carried out throughout the year as a unified enforcement project. The results will be made public in 2024.

During the 44th Session of the Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, Austria, the EU, Finland, Germany and the UK proposed revising Chapter 4.2 by adding the new hazard category related to global warming listed in the annexes to the Montreal Protocol. If the proposal is approved, the new classifications would be Hazardous to the Atmospheric System, which encompass both: Hazardous to the ozone layer; and Hazardous by contributing to global warming.

On June 29, 2023, the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) in Japan published recommended GHS classifications for 170 chemical substances. This is in accordance with JIS Z 7252: 2019 (Classification of chemicals based on the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)).

On July 27, 2023, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) published the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS Rev.10). Revisions have been made to several parts, including: the classification procedure; the use of non-animal testing methods; precautionary statements; and annexes 9 and 10.

On Jun 20, 2023, based on related provisions of the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals, the National Institute of Environmental Research in South Korea released Administrative Announcement on partially revised the Notice on the Designation of Toxic Substances and the Classification and Labeling Regulations for Chemical Substances.

On June 14, China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has opened up a public consultation on GB 30000.1 Rules for classification and labelling of chemicals - Part I: General specifications. Comments are welcomed before August 15, 2023. GB 30000.1 is to replace GB 13690-2009 - General rule for classification and hazard communication of chemicals.

On February 9, 2021, the Ministry of Health of Chile published Decree 57/2019, the Regulation on Classification, Labeling, and Notification of Hazardous Chemicals and Mixtures, which adopts the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Chilean GHS aligns with the UN GHS (version 7) but with certain revisions. In Decree 57/2019, notification shall be made for hazardous chemicals whose annual volume is equal to or greater than one ton. As to substances in mixtures that may pose threats to human health and the environment with a concentration higher than the limit, notification must be made.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in Ireland is checking compliance of Safety Data Sheets (SDSs). This forms part of an EU-wide enforcement project. The HSA, is the main government body responsible for chemicals and occupational safety and health in Ireland. During the inspections and when checking products online, the HSA will focus on the compliance of SDSs. This is to ensure that all are up-to-date with revisions to Annex II of the REACH Regulation set out in Regulation (EU) 2020/878, which came into force on January 1, 2023.

On April 9, 2021, resolution 0773/2021, the regulation governing GHS in workplace in Colombia, was released in the country’s official journal. According to Resolution 0773/2021, classification and labeling of chemical products, and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) shall be prepared based on UN GHS Rev.6 while carcinogenicity classification is based on the requirements of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). A transitional period for this regulation to come into force is as follows: April 7, 2023, for pure substances and diluted solutions; and April 7, 2024, for mixtures Currently, the transitional period for pure substances and diluted solutions has come to a close.