As we move toward the June 1, 2015 deadline for total GHS implementation, nations are making progress at different rates. For the most part, the implementation status is divided into two categories for every country affected: transport of dangerous goods and other sectors.
The UN has data available for 67 participating countries on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) website at this link. Information on the implementation status of selected countries, along with pertinent legislation regarding GHS procedures, are listed below.
Argentina: Legislation about inland transport of dangerous goods is being determined communally by the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) countries – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay – based on UN Model Regulations.
In other sectors, the Institute for the Standardization and Normalization (IRAM) published national SDS standards in 2006. These standards follow GHS requirements.
Australia: Transport of dangerous goods is divided into two categories: explosives and non-explosives. GHS transport standards have been implemented for both categories; the only difference is that non-explosives are governed under the Department of Infrastructure and Transport while the transport of explosives is governed by the Australian Forum of Explosives Regulators (AFER) with Safe Work Australia as Secretariat.
The other key sectors are workplace chemicals, which are governed by Safe Work Australia and the Model Work Health and Safety legislation, poisons, agricultural and veterinary chemicals, which are under the jurisdiction of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), and industrial chemicals, which is governed by the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS).
GHS has been implemented for workplace chemicals and the transport of dangerous goods only. Governmental agencies are considering the implications of GHS for all other categories but support the adoption in theory.
Brazil: Transport of dangerous goods is currently determined by the 12th revised edition of the UN Model Regulations, which means full GHS standards have been implemented.
In other sectors, standards are regulated by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT). As of 2011, classifications and SDS must be done using NBR 14725-2:2009 and NBR 14725- 4:2009 respectively, both of which agree with GHS standards.
China: GHS standards for transport of dangerous goods have been implemented.
As of 2013, 28 GHS compulsory national standards were published that fully aligned with GHS Revision 4. The implementation date for these standards is November 1, 2014. All GHS and industry regulation is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Denmark: As of 2009, GHS standards have been implemented for transport of dangerous goods and all other sectors.
France: As of 2009, GHS standards have been implemented for transport of dangerous goods and all other sectors.
Germany: As of 2009, GHS standards have been implemented for transport of dangerous goods and all other sectors.
Indonesia: GHS will be nationally implemented under a Presidential Decree, the final draft of which has already been written. The Presidential Decree is currently under the responsibility of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, and as such GHS rules have not yet been implemented for all sectors.
Japan: GHS is currently implemented for the transport of dangerous goods. Marine and Air transport regulations are based on UN Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.
In other sectors, classification and hazard communications are governed by National Standard JIS Z 7253 (Hazard Communication of chemicals based on GHS labeling and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) as of 2012. This is consistent with GHS 4th revised version.
All standards are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of the Environment, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Luxembourg: As of 2009, GHS standards have been implemented for transport of dangerous goods and all other sectors.
New Zealand: GHS has been implemented for the national transport of dangerous goods under Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods.
GHS has also been implemented for all other sectors and applicable to all new and existing substances since July 2006.
The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act provides a hazard classification system that is nearly equivalent to the UN GHS for classification of chemicals.
Peru: GHS standards for transport of dangerous goods are implemented.
The ANDEAN Community (Comunidad Andina) – Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru – have developed regulations based on the 13th revised edition of the UN Model Regulations, which are still under consideration for implementation.
There is no information available regarding the GHS implementation status of all other sectors.
Russian Federation: GHS standards for domestic transport of dangerous goods has been implemented by Ordinance No. 272 since April 2011.
There are currently seven GHS national standards in place regarding the classification of standards, and the GHS will be fully implemented at the national level by means of a Technical Regulation that is currently under revision by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Minpromtorg). Other pieces of national legislation are expected to be revised to match GHS once the system has been nationally implemented.
Singapore: GHS has been implemented for transport of dangerous goods, based on the UN Model Regulations.
Singapore Standard SS 586 was published in 2008 to give guidance on hazard classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals for all other sectors along GHS criteria.
South Africa: GHS has been implemented for transport of dangerous goods, based on the UN Model Regulations.
SANS 10234:2008 (“Globally Harmonized System of classification and labeling of chemicals”) was passed in 2008 and provides compliance with GHS on the national level for all other sectors.
Spain: As of 2009, GHS standards have been implemented for transport of dangerous goods and all other sectors.
United Kingdom: As of 2009, GHS standards have been implemented for transport of dangerous goods and all other sectors.
United States: Transport of dangerous goods under Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations meets GHS standards under the 15th revised edition of the UN Model Regulations.
For pesticides, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) applied GHS standards to pesticide labels in 2008.
Workplace chemicals are covered by the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), which is in line with the third revised edition of GHS as of 2012.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released portions of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) in 2007 and compared them to GHS, considering which parts of the GHS standards should be adopted and implemented.
