Dr Peter Dawson

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Implementation of GHS in New Zealand - approach
and practical lessons learned GHS Conference
for ASEANJakarta, Indonesia 9-11 May 2007

• Dr Peter Dawson
• Principal Scientist
• Environmental Risk Management Authority
• New Zealand

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OUTLINE

• Implementation of the GHS in New Zealand
• HSNO Act and Regulations
• Hazard classification
• Hazard communication
• Group Standards

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HSNO Act

• All hazardous substances in all sectors (except
  transport) regulated in NZ by
• Hazardous Substances New Organisms Act 1996
• Transport regulations based on UNRTDG, IMDG, ICAO
• Law commenced 2 July 2001 for haz subs
• Adopts GHS classification framework
• Transitional Arrangements in place until transfer
  of existing substances completed (July 2006)
• Existing regulations under Explosives Act,
  Dangerous Goods Act, Toxic Substances Act,
  Pesticides Act retained

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Legislation Replaced

• The HSNO Act repeals and replaces
• Dangerous Goods Act 1974
• Toxic Substances Act 1979
• Explosives Act 1957
• Pesticides Act 1979
• Plus amendments to other legislation

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Agencies Replaced

• Toxic Substances Board - Ministry of Health
• Pesticides Board - Ministry of Agriculture
• Dangerous Goods Inspectorate - Department of
  Labour
• Explosives Inspectorate - Department of Labour
• Replaced largely by ERMA New Zealand

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Dangerous Goods
600
Explosives
Pesticides
400
1500
Scheduled Toxic Substances
Licensed Animal Remedies
Assessed Substances
2000
400
4900
TRANSFER PROJECT OVERVIEW
Non - Assessed Substances (NOTS)
210,000
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Existing substances transfer project

• Substances transferred to date
• Explosives - August 2003
• Dangerous Goods, Scheduled Toxic Substances -
  April 2004
• Pesticides - July 2004
• Vertebrate poisons (except 1080) - Nov 2004
• Fumigants - November 2004
• Storage Disposal of Persistent Organic
  Pollutants Dec 2004
• Timber Preservatives, Antisapstains and
  Antifouling Paints Jan 2005
• 1080 - July 2005
• Veterinary Medicines July 2005
• Pesticides Veterinary Medicine Actives June
  2006
• Remainder of chemicals (around 5,000) July 2006
• Industrial/commercial/domestic products (around
  100,000 by 200 Group Standards) July 2006

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HSNO Regulatory Toolbox
HSNO Act Regulations
Hazardous substances Threshold

• Classification
• Explosive
• Flammable
• Oxidising
• Corrosive
• Toxic
• Ecotoxic

Required information (Haz. Subst.)
Enforcement officer, test certifier competencies
Property performance requirements
Lifecycle performance requirements
Small scale exempt Laboratories
Explosive
Packaging
Fireworks for public sale
Flammable
Identification
Oxidising
Disposal
Compressed gas containers
Emergency preparedness
Toxic incl bio corrosives
Bulk containers (fixed and moveable)
Tracking
Ecotoxic
Competency
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Regulations

• Minimum Degrees of Hazard Regulations 2001
• Classification Regulations 2001
• Class 1 to 5 Controls Regulations 2001
• Class 6, 8 9 Controls Regulations 2001
• Packaging Regulations 2001
• Identification Regulations 2001
• Emergency Management Regulations 2001
• Disposal Regulations 2001
• Tracking Regulations 2001
• Personnel Qualifications Regulations 2001

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Hazard Classification under HSNO

• Hazardous Substances (Classification) Regulations
  2001
• Covers the six GHS hazardous properties
• All hazards currently classified (for the most
  part) as per GHS in May 2001
• some discrepancies with final version - aerosols
• But NZ classifications have some additions to GHS
• Ecotoxicity (class 9) includes soil, terrestrial
  vertebrate and invertebrate ecotoxicity - based
  largely on US EPA criteria
• Guidance on classification data requirements,
  mixture rules, etc, given in ERMA User Guide to
  HSNO Thresholds and Classifications

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Features of NZ Classification Regulations

• Creates a classification coding system based on
  UNRTDG numbering
• Hazardous property - Class eg. Class 6 -
  toxicity
• Subclass number eg. 6.1 acute toxicity
• Hazard category eg. A LD50 ? 5mg/kg
• Combination of the class, subclass and category
  constitutes a hazard classification eg. 6.1A
  (very acutely toxic) GHS acute toxicity
  Category 1

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Physical Hazard Classifications
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Biological Hazard Classifications
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Classification of Chemicals

• Hazard classification data on chemicals,
  mixtures, kept on internal database at ERMA New
  Zealand
• 12,000 chemicals listed
• 4400 chemicals fully classified against GHS
  endpoints at present
• Further 7600 chemicals partially or not
  classified
• Eventually will make publicly available - assist
  industry to prepare applications, choose less
  hazardous components for formulations,
  self-classify products under Group Standards

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GHS issues with implementation

• HSNO classification, labelling and SDS
  regulations based on GHS
• Issues
• Classification of mixtures with lack of data
  available on components
• Lack of data available consistent with HSNO/GHS
  endpoints, particularly ecotoxic data
• Interpreting hazardous/non-hazardous thresholds
  for mixtures with chronic toxic components
• Applying/adapting GHS hazard based labelling to
  risk based situations

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Hazard Communication Target audience needs

• Factors considered
• - Potential use of products
• Availability of information other than label
• Availability of specific training.
• Needs
• Workplace labels, SDS, specific training
• Emergency responders labels, specific training
• Transport labels, transport documents, specific
  training
• Consumers labels

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GHS Label Elements

• Pictograms
• Signal words Danger, Warning
• Hazard statements Toxic if swallowed
• Precautionary statements Wear protective gloves
• Statements can be codified like R and S phrases

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ACUTE TOXICITY - ORAL ACUTE TOXICITY - ORAL ACUTE TOXICITY - ORAL ACUTE TOXICITY - ORAL ACUTE TOXICITY - ORAL ACUTE TOXICITY - ORAL ACUTE TOXICITY - ORAL
Symbol Skull and crossbones Symbol Skull and crossbones
Hazard Category Signal Word Signal Word Hazard Statement Hazard Statement
3 Danger Danger Toxic if swallowed (H301) Toxic if swallowed (H301)
Precautionary Statements Precautionary Statements Precautionary Statements Precautionary Statements Precautionary Statements Precautionary Statements Precautionary Statements
Prevention Prevention Response Response Storage Storage Disposal
Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product. (P270) Wash hands thoroughly after handling. (P264) Keep out of reach of children Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product. (P270) Wash hands thoroughly after handling. (P264) Keep out of reach of children IF SWALLOWED Immediately call the POISON CENTRE (0800 POISON) (P301P310) Rinse mouth (P330) Specific treatment is urgent (see . ltreference to supplemental first aid instructiongt. on this label)(P320) IF SWALLOWED Immediately call the POISON CENTRE (0800 POISON) (P301P310) Rinse mouth (P330) Specific treatment is urgent (see . ltreference to supplemental first aid instructiongt. on this label)(P320) Store locked up. (P405) Store locked up. (P405) Dispose of contents/container to...(P501)
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Codifying Label Statements
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Group Standards

• Type of approval for hazardous substances under
  HSNO Act
• Group of hazardous substances of a similar
  nature, type or having similar circumstances of
  use
• 200 group standards issued
• http//www.ermanz.govt.nz/hs/groupstandards/gslist
  .pdf
• Cover 30 product specific categories
• No group standards for
• Pesticides
• Veterinary Medicines (other than nutritional
  products)

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Group Standards

• Risk and hazard based rather than solely hazard
  based.
• Risks will be managed by a single set of
  conditions
• Conditions relate to both regulatory requirements
  (e.g. labels and packaging) and obligations (eg
  notification) and restrictions (eg use)
• Controls more direct, prescriptive eg mandates
  GHS label elements guide developed using
  proposed GHS codification system for identifying
  hazard and precautionary statements required

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Group Standards
Group Standards include

• Paints
• Adhesives and resins
• Inks
• Dyes and pigments
• Lubricants
• Polymers
• Industrial cleaners
• Flavours and Fragrances
• Aerosols
• Cosmetics
• Domestic products

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Conditions

• A Group Standard applies conditions to the
  substance
• Based on HSNO Regulations, but some differences
• More user friendly language
• Prescriptive but allow for alternative methods of
  compliance

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Conditions

• The conditions are set out in 10 parts
• 1 Information requirements (including labelling
  and safety data sheets)
• 2 Site and storage
• 3 Approved handlers and tracking
• 4 Packaging
• 5 Equipment
• 6 Transportation
• 7 Disposal
• 8 Exposure limits
• 9 Notification to the Authority (Inventory of
  Chemicals)
• 10 Other matters

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Staged Implementation

• Referred to within the Group Standard as
  Transitional Conditions
• Existing substances (NOTS) only
• Approach consistent with that applied to
  previously transferred substances
• 1 July 2008 - Compliance required with conditions
  for Labelling, Safety data sheets, Packaging

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2010 Condition

• As part of the alternative compliance measures,a
  2010 provision is provided for
• Labelling
• Packaging
• Child Resistant Packaging
• Permanent Identification
• Provisions expire 31 December 2010

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2010 Condition Why?

• Recognises NZ implementation of GHS is ahead of
  other countries
• Alignment with international best practice
• Removes the need for relabelling
• Removes the need for repackaging
• Minimises compliance costs
• Reflects the submissions received from the
  consultation

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2010 Condition Labelling

• Compliance not required with the prescriptive
  group standard labelling condition if the
  substance complies with
• the relevant current labelling requirements of
  Australia, USA, Canada, the European Union or any
  other country as approved by the Authority, as if
  the substances were for sale or supply in those
  countries, and the requirements of subclause
  (2).
• Condition expires 31 December 2010

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Capacity Building Initiatives

• Workshops/training programmes for enforcement
  officers and advisors
• Guidance documents, codes of practice developed
  by ERMA and industry
• NZCIC developing electronic compliance tool
• Industry associations/regulatory agencies fully
  engaged, SMEs/workforce level less so
• Need for capacity building at worker/public level
• Website www.ermanz.govt.nz

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