On Dec 27th 2016, the Chemical’s Physical Hazards Identification and Classification Technical Committee (CITC) under State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) published the Catalogue of Substances Exempted from Physical Hazards Identification and Classification (1st batch). As a supporting document to the Measures on the Management of Physical Hazard Identification and Classification for Chemicals (SAWS Order No.60), the release of the Catalog along with the list of accredited labs for physical hazard identification and classification herald the beginning of practical implementation of SAWS Order No.60.
The Catalog contains 100 substances, divided into 2 lists. The 1st list contains 50 substances that don’t present any physical hazards. These substances are exempted from physical hazards identification and classification. However, if they are discovered to have new health or environmental hazards, then enterprises must follow the GHS requirements and complete the registration of hazardous substances.
The 2nd list contains 50 substances that present clearly identified physical hazards. Except 2,4-Dinitrophenol sodium salt, 49 out of these 50 substances are not included in the Inventory of Hazardous Chemicals. So although these substances are exempted from physical hazards identification and classification, enterprises still have to complete the registration of hazardous substances. The 2nd list only provides the identified physical hazards, meaning enterprises need to gather toxicological and eco-toxicological data in order to identify the health hazards and environmental hazards of the substances before the registration of hazardous chemicals and GHS compliance. As to the mixtures containing substances in the 2nd list, if their physical hazards are not identified, they are still subject to the identification and classification in accordance with SAWS Order No.60.
