Differences Between UN 6th and 7th Revision of GHS

United Nations Economic and Social Council’s Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS Sub-Committee) released the 7^th revision of GHS in July. ChemLinked has now summarized changes between the 7^th and 6^th revision of GHS as follows:

1. General definitions

1. The definitions of “dermal corrosion”, “dermal irritation”, “eye irritation”, “serious eye damage”, “skin corrosion” and “skin irritation” are deleted in Chapter 1.2;

2. The definition of “respiratory sensitizers” is expanded from “substances” to “substances and mixtures”.

2. Hazard information communication

1. The cut off value/concentration for aspiration hazard categories 1 and 2 is changed to “≥1.0%”;

2. Chapter 1.5.3.3.3 is deleted.

3. Flammable gas

1. The three tables of chapter 2.2.1, 2.2.2 and 2.2.3 are integrated into one table. The flammable gas category 1 is further divided into category 1A and 1B;

2. Some parameters in the calculation of gas flammability are changed.

4. Acute toxicity

1. The specific time limit (24 hours and 4 hours) in chapter 3.1.1 is deleted. The definition of acute toxicity is changed to “serious adverse health effects (i.e., lethality) occurring after a single or short-term oral, dermal or inhalation exposure to a substance or mixture”;

2. The ATE values in table 3.1.1 are changed from maximum values to value ranges;

3. Some more indicators of acute toxicity are added to chapter 3.1.2.1, such as significant clinical signs of toxicity.

5. Skin corrosion

1. The specific time limit (4 hours) in chapter 3.2.1.1 is deleted. The definition of skin corrosion is changed to “the production of irreversible damage to the skin; namely, visible necrosis through the epidermis and into the dermis occurring after exposure to a substance or mixture”; the definition of skin irritation is changed to “the production of reversible damage to the skin occurring after exposure to a substance or mixture”.

6. Serious eye damage and eye irritation

1. The 21 days application time in chapter 3.3.1.1 is deleted. The definition of serious eye damage is changed to “the production of tissue damage in the eye, or serious physical decay of vision, which is not fully reversible, occurring after exposure of the eye to a substance or mixture”; the definition of eye irritation is changed to “the production of changes in the eye, which are fully reversible, occurring after exposure of the eye to a substance or mixture”.

7. Some H & P phrases and revised. A new P503 is added for the explosives.

8. A new example of fold-out labels for small packages is added as Example 9 in Annex 7. The requirements on the front page, text pages/pages inside and the back page are specified and illustrated.