Japan Updated Template GHS Labels and SDSs for 450 Chemicals

On 22 Mar 2013, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) released template labels and safety data sheets for 168 chemical substances. Meanwhile, labels and SDSs for another 282 substances have been updated.

Until now, there are totally 2603 substances with model GHS SDSs and 2075 chemicals with model GHS labels.

Last March, Japan issued the Hazard communication of chemicals based on GHS-Labelling and Safety Data Sheet (JIS Z 7253-2012), which is based on the 4^th edition of UN GHS, to replace the Safety data sheet for chemical products-Content and order of sections (JIS Z 7250) and Labelling of chemicals based on GHS (JIS Z 7251).

From 31 Dec 2016, it will be mandatory for companies to design labels and SDSs for their chemical substances according to JIS Z 7253-2012. But before that date, the previous versions will still be effective until the following deadlines:

In order to be consistent with the UN GHS 4^th edition like the JIS Z 7253-2012 , the Japanese government is working on revising the Classification of chemicals based on GHS (JIS 7252-2009) which was formulated in line with UN GHS Rev.2.