You are here：Home > news2023

Important changes to the revised edition of GHS Purple Book 4-8

Posted Date:2023/11/1

The UN GHS is updated every two years, and each country reviews existing laws/regulations/standards in light of the changes in the UN GHS. With the updating of GHS, the GHS regulations of many countries have been updated from the old GHS version to the new GHS version, and most countries have adopted versions 4, 5, 6 and 7. Part of the third edition; There are also the first and second versions, very few. At present, the latest version is the 9th edition of UN GHS. The changes in the 8th and 9th editions have been explained in detail last time. Today, I will mainly talk about the major changes in the 4th and 8th revisions.

I. The update focus of GHS releases 4 to 5

1. In the section "Skin and eye corrosion/Irritation", add "In the absence of any other information, a substance shall be considered corrosive in Class 1 if its pH value is ≤2 or ≥11.5". However, if acid-base buffering is taken into account, the substance may not be corrosive despite a very low or very high pH, and this situation must be confirmed by other information, preferably information adequately confirmed by in vitro tests.

2. The classification standard of GHS harm to skin and eyes requires that animal tests must reach 3 times. There are clear principles for evaluating the results of studies with four, five or six animals.

3. Eye class 2B is not included in the addition formula of mixtures, only "If all the relevant components of the mixture are labeled as eye 2B, the mixture may be labeled as eye 2B".

II. GHS version 5 to 6 update focus

1. Add "Particle Characteristics" to section 9 of SDS.

Note: This change is significant for some ambiguous classification of solid substances.

2. Add a subcategory of "ignition gas" to flammable gases. A flammable gas prone to spontaneous combustion in air at or below 54 degrees Celsius.

3. Add a hazard classification of "desensitized explosives" to the physical hazard classification. A solid or liquid explosive substance or mixture that has been desensitized to suppress its explosive, does not explode in whole or burn too quickly, and is not classified as a dangerous category of "explosive."

III. Update highlights of GHS releases 6 to 7

1. Flammable gases that ignite and/or are chemically unstable shall be classified as "Flammable Gases Class 1A", and the hazard warning information of "extremely flammable gases" shall be added.

2. In the acute toxicity section, clearly put ATE (acute toxicity estimate) into the classification table.

IV. GHS 7th to 8th version of the update focus

1. The aerosol is changed to "aerosol and pressurized chemicals" and the sub-standard of pressurized chemicals is added. Pressurized chemicals refer to liquids or gases that are pressurized to 200 kPa (gauge pressure) or higher with a gas at 20 ° C in a pressure reservoir other than an aerosol spray tank. Note: Pressurized chemicals usually contain 50% or more (by mass) liquid or solid, while liquids or solids with a gas content of more than 50% are generally considered high-pressure gases.

2. Increased classification of skin corrosion according to in vitro/in vitro data, for cases where in vitro/in vitro tests have been performed according to OECD 430, 431, 435 or 439, the classification criteria for skin corrosion category 1 (and subclass 1A, 1B or 1C where possible and required) and skin irritation category 2 are listed.