The State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) has published on 10 July a draft recommended standard (GB/T) on China GHS hazard statement for public consultation. The draft standard, entitled as “Phrase and Codification of Chemical Hazard Statements”, is formulated to further the implementation of GHS in China by adopting the fourth revision of the UN GHS in terms of chemical pictograms, hazard statements and precautionary statements as well as their codification. It will be an important technical reference for the industry to describe hazard related statements in preparing SDS and labelling for hazardous chemicals.
Composition of the draft standard
1, Applicable scope
2, Normative references
3, Terms and Definitions
4, Pictograms and their codification
5, Hazard statements and their codification
6, Precautionary statements and their codification
-Appendix A (normative appendix) Detailed pictograms and codes
Preview of the pictogram table-Appendix B (normative appendix) Detailed hazard statements and codes, divided up as physical hazard statements (H200-H290), health hazard statements (H300-H315+H320) and environmental hazard statements (H400-H420).
Preview of the hazard statement table
Code | Hazard statement phrase | Hazard class | Hazard category |
H200 | Unstable explosives | Explosives | Unstable explosives |
H201 | Explosives; mass explosion hazard | Explosives | Division 1.1 |
… | … | … | … |
-Appendix C (normative appendix) Detailed precautionary statements and codes, divided up as general precautionary statements (P101-P103), prevention precautionary statements (P201-P235+P410), emergency precautionary statements (P301- P371+P380+P375), storage precautionary statements (P401-P411+P235), and disposal precautionary statements (P501-P502).
Preview of the precautionary statement table
Code | Precautionary statement phrase | Hazard class | Hazard category | Use conditions |
P101 | If medical advice is needed, have product container or label at hand. | Identify accordingly |
| Consumer product |
… | … | … | … | … |
Mr. Chen Jinhe, the responsible contact person of the drafting committee has introduced the significance of the draft in a document attached as the explanation of the consulting invitation. “This draft GB/T standard to be consulted is contributive to bridging the regulatory gap in China GHS hazard description system, given that a series of standards concerning GHS classification, labelling and SDS have been put into practice.” He remarked, "The enactment of this standard will be a forceful complement to the industry practice in line with China's labelling (GB 15258-2009) and SDS making standards (GB/T 16483-2008)."
As for the regulatory purpose of the draft GB/T, Chen noted, “Hazard phrases which consist of the pictogram, hazard statements and precautionary statements are an indispensable part of the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals. This set of information has facilitated the standardized handling and disposal of clearly classified chemicals under the GHS, in particular their precautionary measures and emergency response & rescue. He also hinted that the proposed standard will be a valuable technical reference for the implementation of another ongoing project on the standard concerning workplace safety warning signs.
Professional comments on the draft standard are welcome to be submitted to the SAWS before the 2nd of August in print and by email: chemsos@chinasafety.gov.cn.
Chemlinked offers a translation service for members who’d like to read English version of the standard (draft and formal). Interested readers please send your request to contact@chemlinked.com.