Thailand has adopted the GHS since 13 Mar 2012. The Department of Industrial Works (DIW) finalized the drafting of Ministry of Industry’s Notification on Hazard Classification and Communication for Hazardous Substances. The final notification (Notification BE 2555) was published in the official legislative gazette of Thailand in Mar 2012 and effective from 13 Mar 2012. The notification is based on the third revised edition of the GHS. The transitional period is one year for substances and five years for mixtures, respectively. Therefore, substances will be covered by the GHS legislation imminently, specifically from 13 Mar 2013.
Table 1 of the notification provides the relevant classification criteria and hazard communication elements including the standardized symbol, signal word and hazard statement. All the GHS building blocks are adopted in Thailand GHS, which consist of 16 physical hazards, 10 health hazard and 2 environmental hazards.
Excerpt of Table 1
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Table 2 of the notification outlines the safety data sheet requirements which are in line with the 16-section format of the UN GHS without adding more details. The 16 sections listed in order as follows:
Section 1: Identification of the substance or mixture and of the supplier
Section 2: Hazards identification
Section 3: Composition/information on ingredients
Section 4: First-aid measures
Section 5: Fire-fighting measures
Section 6: Accidental release measures
Section 7: Handling and storage
Section 8: Exposure controls/personal protection
Section 9: Physical and chemical properties
Section 10: Stability and reactivity
Section 11: Toxicological information
Section 12: Ecological information
Section 13: Disposal considerations
Section 14: Transport information
Section 15: Regulatory information
Section 16: Other information
Excerpt of Table 2
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There are no references to specific Thai control parameters for section 8. Therefore, it is a good practice to display the OELs listed by relevant authorities of different countries on the SDS provided to users of that corresponding country. Furthermore, it indicates that health, safety or environmental regulatory information specific for the product should be referenced in section 15 of the SDS, but does not specify which Thai regulations must be considered for addition to section 15.
The notification also provides the minimum requirements of the label elements including:
Pictograms - a pictogram should be prepared in appropriate size on a label and should be made in black and placed on a white background within a red square frame set an angle of 45° on its point (a diamond shaped)
Signal word - danger or warning
Hazard statements
Precautionary statements - composed of phrases describing methods of prevention, storage, disposal and treatment in case of leakage, exposure or accident
Product identifier – be in consistent with a product identifier prescribed in a safety data sheet and be displayed with common names or IUPAC names or trade names
Supplier identification - should identify name, address and telephone number of a manufacturer or a supplier of hazardous substance on a label or identify an emergency telephone number
However, the minimum label size is not specified in the Notification. It is only stated that the label affixed to a container of hazardous substance should have appropriate size on the container and should be clearly noticed.
It is highly recommended to prepare the SDSs and labels which comply with the Thailand GHS for hazardous substances placed on the Thailand market from 13 March 2013.
