European Commission Adopted Proposal
On 27th of June 2007, the European Commission has adopted the “Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006” (COM(2007) 355 final). The proposed act aligns the EU system of classification, labelling and packaging substances and mixtures to the United Nations Globally Harmonised System (GHS). It is expected to facilitate global trade and harmonised communication of hazard information of chemicals and to promote regulatory efficiency. It will complement the new REACH Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals. The proposed Regulation will be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council under the co-decision procedure.
The proposal incorporates the classification criteria and labelling rules agreed at UN level, the so called Globally Harmonised System of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS). It will introduce new classification criteria, hazard symbols (pictograms) and labelling phrases, while taking account of elements which are part of the current EU legislation.
The proposed regulation requires companies to classify, label and package appropriately their substances and mixtures before placing them on the market. It aims to protect workers, consumers and the environment by means of labelling which reflects possible hazardous effects of a particular chemical.
The proposed regulation also takes over provisions of the REACH Regulation regarding the notification of classifications, the establishment of a list of harmonised classifications and the creation of a classification and labelling inventory.
The proposal will undergo co-decision, seeking agreement of the European Parliament and the Council. After entry into force the deadline for substance reclassification is proposed to be 1 December 2010 and for mixtures 1 June 2015.
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.
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