Brussels, 03/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 3 September, the European Parliament adopted by an overwhelming majority, three reports by Amalia Sartori (EPP-ED, Italy) on the classification, packaging and labelling of chemical substances and compounds. The EP has therefore ratified the compromise concluded between its representatives and those from the Council on introducing the UN's Globally Harmonised System (GHS) on chemical substances. A new regulation will replace existing directives on classification and labelling of substances, while maintaining the current level of environmental and health protection.
The introduction of GHS into Community law will require certain technical adjustments but the new rules are, nonetheless, similar to those currently in force in the Union. The draft regulation aims to keep the field of application of the classification and labelling rules as close as possible to the existing EU system and to ensure a smooth transition to the system based on the GHS. On the basis of current legislation, the proposed regulation mainly consists of self-classification for companies. The system aims to improve human health and environmental protection during handling, transport and use of chemical substances. The proposed regulation also complies with the REACH regulation. In practice, the proposal includes the harmonisation of chemical substances and compound classification, as well as rules on labelling and packaging of substances of hazardous substances;
- the obligation on suppliers to carry out a classification of substances and mixes; - the obligation on suppliers to notify these classifications and the obligation on those making a declaration to transmit these classifications as part of these declarations to the European Chemicals Agency; - the creation of a list of substances with their classifications and labelling standardised at Community level; - the creation of an inventory of classifications and labels, made up of all the above-mentioned notifications, declarations and classifications.
As a result of negotiations with the Council, the MEPs have managed to get several modifications included in the Commission's proposals, with a view to guaranteeing an appropriate balance of the interests of consumers, the environment and industry: - the Member States will appoint one or more bodies to be responsible for the information, to allow preventative and curative measures to be formulated, particularly in emergency cases in response to a health problem (anti-poison centres). Three years after the entry into force, the Commission will assess the possibility of harmonising the information; - the MEPs have withdrawn the commitment to reduce animal experimentation, even though the regulation itself does not stipulate the trial methods; - SMEs will pay reduced fees pertaining to the confidentiality request; - the Member States and the Commission have agreed to promote, at United Nations level, the harmonisation of the criteria for the classification and labelling of persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic substances (PBT) and very persistent, very bio-accumulative substances (VPVB).
The reclassification and labelling of most chemical products must be completed by 1 December 2010 for substances and 1 June 2015 for mixes. The current directives will expire on 1 June 2015. Over an interim period, both systems will apply. (O.L. ./transl.rh)