COVID-19 Delays Australia's Transition to New Chemical System
Safe Work Australia has delayed the transition to the GHS 7 chemical classification system until January 2021 due to COVID-19 impacts.
Safe Work Australia (SWA) has postponed the start date for transitioning from the third to the seventh revised edition of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS 7) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australian businesses.
The GHS sets guidelines for the safe production, transport, handling, use and disposal of hazardous materials, and is seen as a way to bring into agreement the chemical regulations and standards of different countries.
SWA has been working towards adopting GHS 7 for workplace hazardous chemicals under the model WHS laws since late 2019, and the new system was due to commence from 1 July 2020 (with a two-year transitional period).
However, as businesses around the country adjust to new norms, SWA members have agreed that the new start date for the transitional period will be 1 January 2021. A full two-year transitional period will follow from this date.
“To ensure that any importers and manufacturers that had already begun work on implementing GHS 7 are not disadvantaged, state and territory governments will put in place regulatory arrangements allowing businesses to start classifying and labelling chemicals in accordance with GHS 7 from 1 July 2020,” SWA says.
“Suppliers and end-users will also be able to supply and use GHS 7 labelled chemicals under these arrangements. Details of the regulatory arrangements will be published on our website when they become available.”
However, Australian businesses are reminded that even though GHS 7 is delayed, a new risk-based regulatory scheme for industrial chemicals is set to commence on 1 July 2020.
On this date, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) will replace NICNAS as the new national regulator of the importation and manufacture of industrial chemicals in Australia.
For more information regarding new record-keeping and categorisation requirements for imported and manufactured chemicals, visit the NICNAS/AICIS website.