Implementing the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) – Consultation 2
Decision Date: 15 October 2020
We have updated New Zealand's hazardous substance classification system to apply Revision 7 (2017) of the GHS.
GHS consultation update
30 October 2020
Issue of EPA notices
On 15 October 2020, the EPA Board signed off two new EPA notices:
- the Hazardous Substances (Hazard Classification) Notice 2020
- the EPA Notices (Amendments and Revocations) Notice 2020.
The EPA Notices (Amendments and Revocations) Notice outlines the amendments made to the following six EPA notices:
- Hazardous Substances (Labelling) Notice 2017
- Hazardous Substances (Safety Data Sheets) Notice 2017
- Hazardous Substances (Packaging) Notice 2017
- Hazardous Substances (Disposal) Notice 2017
- Hazardous Substances (Hazardous Property Controls) Notice 2017
- Hazardous Substances (Importers and Manufacturers Notice) 2015.
The new and amended notices come into force on 30 April 2021.
See the changes and updated copies of the EPA notices
Approval of new group standards
On 19 October 2020, a HSNO decision-making committee approved the issue of 207 new group standards that are based on GHS 7 classifications. The committee also approved the revocation of 209 group standards that are based on the 2001 HSNO classification system.
The Fire Fighting Chemicals Group Standard (HSR002573) is undergoing a separate amendment process to incorporate changes to the Stockholm Convention which are to be implemented into New Zealand law. This amendment should be completed in December 2020. This group standard will be updated again early next year to apply the GHS 7 classifications.
The new 2020 group standards come into force on 30 April 2021.
Decision on Group Standards (PDF, 440KB)
Learn more about the changes to the 2020 Group Standards
Learn more about the changes to the Fire Fighting Chemicals Group Standard
Submission analysis report
We received 28 submissions on GHS Consultation 2 which we have analysed and reviewed. The Submissions Analysis Report has a summary of the submissions and our recommendations on the proposals.
Implementation of GHS 7: Submission Analysis Report on June 2020 Consultation (PDF, 1MB)
Read the main consultation document (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Following consideration of submissions, we made a number of changes to the proposed GHS 7 classifications and fates of some substances listed in Appendix 6 to the consultation document.
GHS 7 Classifications and Fates list (XLXS, 1.7MB)
More information
We have released some more information about the changes to GHS 7 and how this may affect you.
19 August 2020
The submission period closed on 4 August 2020.
We are currently working through the public submissions we received. We will update this page once we have analysed and reviewed them. You can email us at HSnotices@epa.govt.nz.
Background information
We consulted on the intention to adopt the GHS 7 in October 2019 and are now requesting feedback on the next stage of the project, which involves updating existing hazardous substance individual approvals and group standards to convert their current HSNO classifications to GHS classifications.
We are also revoking a number of duplicate approvals, updating the controls on approvals issued before 1 December 2017 to bring them into line with the health and safety reforms that came into force on that date, and make other minor changes to a small number of group standards.
Consultation documents
Read the main consultation document (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Appendices
Appendix 1: Glossary of Terms (this appendix is contained in the main consultation document (PDF, 1.1MB)
Appendix 2: October 2019 consultation (PDF, 1.3MB)
Appendix 3: Read the Submissions Analysis Report from the October 2019 consultation (PDF, 815KB)
Appendix 4: Exposure drafts of the new and amended Notices
Appendix 5: Proposed group standards
Appendix 6: Proposed classifications and fates of approved substance (XLXS, 1.7MB)
Appendix 7: Proposed controls mapping spreadsheet (XLXS, 662KB)
Proposed Group Standards
We have updated the 2017 group standards to refer to GHS 7 classifications rather than the old alpha-numeric HSNO classifications, and have proposed some changes to a small number of group standards.
Two documents are provided for each proposed group standard, a 'clean' version and a second version with tracked changes to indicate where modifications, additions and deletions have been made.
GHS 1 consultation
Information about our first consultation, which was open for submission in October 2019, is available at the link below:
GHS revision 7
You can read Revision 7 of the GHS on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe website:
GHS revision 7 - United Nations Economic Commission for Europe website
Post GHS 2 consultation proposed group standards
Following the second consultation on the GHS7 changes we issued proposed updated group standards.