Dr Peter DawsonPrincipal Scientist

Environmental Risk Management Authority New Zealand

Implementation of GHS in New Zealand

- approach and practical lessons learned

GHS Conference for ASEANJakarta, Indonesia

9-11 May 2007

OUTLINE

Implementation of the GHS in New Zealand• HSNO Act and Regulations• Hazard classification• Hazard communication• Group Standards

HSNO ActAll hazardous substances in all sectors (except transport) regulated in NZ by

• Hazardous Substances & New Organisms Act 1996• Transport regulations based on UNRTDG, IMDG, ICAO

Law commenced 2 July 2001 for haz subs• Adopts GHS classification framework

Transitional Arrangements in place until transfer of existing substances completed (July 2006)

• Existing regulations under Explosives Act, Dangerous Goods Act, Toxic Substances Act, Pesticides Act retained

Legislation ReplacedThe HSNO Act repeals and replaces

• Dangerous Goods Act 1974

• Toxic Substances Act 1979

• Explosives Act 1957

• Pesticides Act 1979

• Plus amendments to other legislation

Agencies Replaced

Toxic Substances Board - Ministry of Health

Pesticides Board - Ministry of Agriculture

Dangerous Goods Inspectorate - Department of Labour

Explosives Inspectorate - Department of Labour

Replaced largely by ERMA New Zealand

Explosives Pesticides

Scheduled Toxic

Substances

400600

1500

400

TRANSFER PROJECT OVERVIEW

Non - Assessed Substances (NOTS)

Assessed Substances

4900

210,000

Single Chemicals

Chemical Mixtures

Formulated/Manufactured

Products

Generic Notifications

Assessed Substances

“Small-scale use”(s33) Substances

Non-hazardous Substances

Licensed Animal Remedies

2000

Dangerous Goods

Existing substances – transfer project

Substances transferred to date• Explosives - August 2003• Dangerous Goods, Scheduled Toxic Substances - April 2004• Pesticides - July 2004• Vertebrate poisons (except 1080) - Nov 2004• Fumigants - November 2004• Storage & Disposal of Persistent Organic Pollutants – Dec 2004• Timber Preservatives, Antisapstains and Antifouling Paints – Jan 2005• 1080 - July 2005• Veterinary Medicines – July 2005• Pesticides & Veterinary Medicine Actives – June 2006 • Remainder of chemicals (around 5,000) – July 2006• Industrial/commercial/domestic products (around 100,000 by 200 Group

Standards) – July 2006

HSNO Regulatory “Toolbox”

Hazardous substances Threshold

Classification• Explosive • Flammable• Oxidising• Corrosive• Toxic • Ecotoxic

Required information (Haz. Subst.)

Property performance requirements Lifecycle performance requirements

Small scale exempt Laboratories

Enforcement officer, test certifier competencies

Fireworks for public sale

HSNO Act & Regulations

Explosive

Flammable

Oxidising

Toxic incl bio corrosives

Ecotoxic

Disposal

Identification

Packaging

Emergency preparedness

Tracking

Competency

Compressed gas containers

Bulk containers (fixed and moveable)

RegulationsMinimum Degrees of Hazard Regulations 2001

Classification Regulations 2001

Class 1 to 5 Controls Regulations 2001

Class 6, 8 & 9 Controls Regulations 2001

Packaging Regulations 2001

Identification Regulations 2001

Emergency Management Regulations 2001

Disposal Regulations 2001

Tracking Regulations 2001

Personnel Qualifications Regulations 2001

Hazard Classification under HSNO

Hazardous Substances (Classification) Regulations 2001Covers the six GHS hazardous propertiesAll hazards currently classified (for the most part) as per GHS in May 2001

• some discrepancies with final version - aerosols

But NZ classifications have some additions to GHS• Ecotoxicity (class 9) includes soil, terrestrial vertebrate and

invertebrate ecotoxicity - based largely on US EPA criteria

Guidance on classification – data requirements, mixture rules, etc, given in ERMA User Guide to HSNO Thresholds and Classifications

Features of NZ Classification Regulations

Creates a classification coding system based on UNRTDG numbering:

• Hazardous property - Class eg. Class 6 - toxicity• Subclass number eg. 6.1 – acute toxicity

• Hazard category eg. A – LD50 5mg/kg

• Combination of the class, subclass and category constitutes a hazard classification eg. 6.1A (very acutely toxic) = GHS acute toxicity Category 1

Physical Hazard Classifications

Property Explosiveness Flammability Capacity to oxidise

Class Class 1 Class2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5

Subclass 1.1 Mass

explosion

1.2 Projection

1.3 Fire & minor blast

1.4 No

significant hazard

1.5 Very

insensitive

1.6 Extremely insensitive

2.1.1 Gases

2.1.2 Aerosols

3.1 Liquids

3.2 Liquid

Desensitised explosive

4.1.1 Readily

combustible

4.1.2 Self

reactive

4.1.3 Desensitised

explosive

4.2 Spontaneously

combustible

4.3 Dangerous

when wet

5.1.1 Liquids /solids

5.1.2 Gases

5.2 Organic peroxide

1.1A 2.1.1A 2.1.2A 3.1A 3.2A 4.1.1A 4.1.2A 4.1.3A 4.2A 4.3A 5.1.1A 5.1.2A 5.2A

1.1B 1.2B 1.4B 2.1.1B 3.1B 3.2B 4.1.1B 4.1.2B 4.1.3B 4.2B 4.3B 5.1.1B 5.2B

1.1C 1.2C 1.3C 1.4C 3.1C 3.2C 4.1.2C 4.1.3C 4.2C 4.3C 5.1.1C 5.2C

1.1D 1.2D 1.4D 1.5D 3.1D 4.1.2D 5.2D

1.1E 1.2E 1.4E 4.1.2E 5.2E

Hazard

Classification

1.1F 1.2F 1.3F 1.4F 4.1.2F 5.2F

1.1G 1.2G 1.3G 1.4G 4.1.2G 5.2G

1.2H 1.3H

1.1J 1.2J 1.3J

1.2K 1.3K

1.1L 1.2L 1.3L

1.6N

1.4S

Biological Hazard Classifications

Property Toxicity Corrosiveness Ecotoxicity Class Class 6 Class 8 Class 9 Sub-Class 6.1

Acutely toxic

6.3 Skin

irritant

6.4 Eye

irritant

6.5 Sensitisation

6.6 Mutagen

6.7 Carcinogen

6.8 Reproductive / developmental

6.9 Target organ

systemic

8 1 Metallic

corrosive

8.2 Skin

corrosive

8.3 Eye

corrosive

9.1 Aquatic

9.2 Soil

9.3 Terrestrial Vertebrate

9.4 Terrestrial

Invertebrate

6.1 A

6.3A 6.4A 6.5 A

6.6 A

6.7 A

6.8 A

6.9 A

8.1A 8.2 A

8.3 A

9.1 A

9.2 A

9.3 A

9.4 A

6.1 B

6.3B 6.5 B

6.6 B

6.7 B

6.8 B

6.9 B

8.2 B

9.1 B

9.2 B

9.3 B

9.4 B

6.1 C

6.8 C

8.2 C

9.1 C

9.2 C

9.3 C

9.4 C

6.1 D

9.1 D

9.2 D

Hazard Classification

6.1E

Classification of Chemicals

Hazard classification data on chemicals, mixtures, kept on internal database at ERMA New Zealand

12,000 chemicals listed

4400 chemicals fully classified against GHS endpoints at present

Further 7600 chemicals partially or not classified

Eventually will make publicly available - assist industry to prepare applications, choose less hazardous components for formulations, self-classify products under Group Standards

GHS – issues with implementation

HSNO classification, labelling and SDS regulations based on GHSIssues:• Classification of mixtures with lack of data available

on components• Lack of data available consistent with HSNO/GHS

endpoints, particularly ecotoxic data• Interpreting hazardous/non-hazardous thresholds

for mixtures with chronic toxic components• Applying/adapting GHS hazard based labelling to

risk based situations

Hazard Communication: Target audience needs

Factors considered:- Potential use of products;- Availability of information other than label;- Availability of specific training.

Needs:- Workplace: labels, SDS, specific training;- Emergency responders: labels, specific training;- Transport: labels, transport documents, specific

training- Consumers: labels

GHS Label Elements

Pictograms

Signal words – Danger, Warning

Hazard statements – Toxic if swallowed

Precautionary statements – Wear protective gloves

Statements can be codified like R and S phrases

ACUTE TOXICITY - ORAL

Symbol Skull and crossbones

Hazard Category Signal Word Hazard Statement

3 Danger Toxic if swallowed (H301)

Precautionary Statements

Prevention Response Storage Disposal

Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product. (P270)Wash hands thoroughly after handling. (P264)Keep out of reach of children

IF SWALLOWED: Immediately call the POISON CENTRE (0800 POISON) (P301+P310)Rinse mouth (P330)Specific treatment is urgent (see …. <reference to supplemental first aid instruction>…. on this label)(P320)

Store locked up. (P405)

Dispose of contents/container to...(P501)

Codifying Label Statements

Group StandardsType of approval for hazardous substances under HSNO ActGroup of hazardous substances of a similar nature, type or having similar circumstances of use200 group standards issuedhttp://www.ermanz.govt.nz/hs/groupstandards/gslist.pdf

Cover 30 “product specific” categoriesNo group standards for • Pesticides• Veterinary Medicines (other than nutritional products)

Group Standards

Risk and hazard based rather than solely hazard based.Risks will be managed by a single set of conditionsConditions relate to both regulatory requirements (e.g. labels and packaging) and obligations (eg notification) and restrictions (eg use) Controls more direct, prescriptive eg mandates GHS label elements – guide developed using proposed GHS codification system for identifying hazard and precautionary statements required

Group Standards

Paints Adhesives and resins Inks Dyes and pigments Lubricants Polymers Industrial cleaners Flavours and Fragrances Aerosols Cosmetics Domestic products

Group Standards include:

Conditions

A Group Standard applies conditions to the substance

Based on HSNO Regulations, but some differences

More user friendly language

Prescriptive but allow for alternative methods of compliance

ConditionsThe conditions are set out in 10 parts:

1 Information requirements (including labelling and safety data sheets)

2 Site and storage3 Approved handlers and tracking4 Packaging5 Equipment6 Transportation7 Disposal8 Exposure limits9 Notification to the Authority (Inventory of Chemicals)10 Other matters

Staged ImplementationReferred to within the Group Standard as “Transitional Conditions”

Existing substances (NOTS) only

Approach consistent with that applied to previously transferred substances

1 July 2008 - Compliance required with conditions for Labelling, Safety data sheets, Packaging

“2010 Condition”

As part of the alternative compliance measures,a “2010 provision” is provided for: • Labelling• Packaging

• Child Resistant Packaging• Permanent Identification

Provisions expire 31 December 2010

“2010 Condition” – Why?

Recognises NZ implementation of GHS is “ahead of other countries”Alignment with international best practiceRemoves the need for relabellingRemoves the need for repackagingMinimises compliance costsReflects the submissions received from the consultation

“2010 Condition” – Labelling

Compliance not required with the prescriptive group standard labelling condition if the substance complies with:“the relevant current labelling requirements of Australia, USA, Canada, the European Union or any other country as approved by the Authority, as if the substances were for sale or supply in those countries, and the requirements of subclause (2).”

Condition expires 31 December 2010

Capacity Building InitiativesWorkshops/training programmes for enforcement officers and advisorsGuidance documents, codes of practice developed by ERMA and industryNZCIC developing electronic compliance toolIndustry associations/regulatory agencies fully engaged, SMEs/workforce level less soNeed for capacity building at worker/public levelWebsite www.ermanz.govt.nz