Hazardous chemicals: Are you ready for GHS 7?

The two-year transition period from the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Revision 3 (GHS 3) to Revision 7 (GHS 7) is now in its final stage.

From 1 January 2023, you must use GHS 7 to classify chemicals and prepare chemical labels and safety data sheets (SDS) in Queensland.

State and territory work health and safety regulators agreed to adopt GHS 7 in 2020, which will see the current reference to the third edition in the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 updated. The GHS provides the criteria for the classification of hazardous chemicals in part 7.1 of the regulation.

Manufacturers and importers of hazardous chemicals

If you are a manufacturer or importer of hazardous chemicals, you must only use GHS 7 to label and make SDS from 1 January 2023. You do not have to re-label or dispose of any existing products. However, the SDS should comply with GHS 7 from 1 January 2023 even if the label does not.

You are also considered to be a manufacturer or importer of hazardous chemicals if you repackage or re-label hazardous chemical products with your product name.

Suppliers of hazardous chemicals

If you are a supplier of hazardous chemicals, you should only accept stock which is classified, labelled and has a SDS prepared under GHS 7 from 1 January 2023. You must not supply stock manufactured or imported from 1 January 2023 if it’s not classified and labelled under GHS 7.

Users of hazardous chemicals

If you use hazardous chemicals, you should only accept new stock that is manufactured, classified and labelled under GHS 7 if they are manufactured or imported after 1 January 2023.

If the hazardous chemical is manufactured or imported before 1 January 2023, the product can be classified and labelled with either GHS 3 or GHS 7. This is the case even if you receive the product after 1 January 2023.

SDS should be compliant with GHS 7 from 1 January 2023 even if the label is not.

More information

If you manufacture or import hazardous chemicals, Safe Work Australia’s GHS 7 information sheet for manufacturers and importers of hazardous chemicals has more information.

You can also watch Safe Work Australia’s Transition to GHS 7 webinar to learn more about the GHS 7 and what it means for chemical classification, labelling and SDS.