ILO/UNITAR: Developing a National GHS Implementation Strategy (2022)
Description:
UNITAR and ILO, through the Global GHS Capacity Building Programme, have long-emphasised the importance of the implementation of the GHS and have been actively involved since the GHS was adopted in 2002. In that same year, Heads of State and Government at the World Summit on Sustainable Development encouraged countries to implement the GHS with a view to having the system fully operational by 2008.
In addition, at the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM4) in 2015, an overall orientation and guidance for achieving the sound management of chemicals and waste was endorsed, with one of the 11 basic elements being: Collection and systems for the transparent sharing of relevant data and information among all rel- evant stakeholders using a life cycle approach, such as the implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
The global community continues to promote implementation of the GHS, with some 70 countries implementing the system in legislation, by early 2022. ILO and UNITAR are committed to increasing implementation of the GHS around the world.
This guidance document was first developed in 2005, and offers a comprehensive guide to “Developing a National GHS Implementation Strategy”, as a key step on the journey to implementing the GHS. It is intended to provide guidance for countries that choose to develop a National GHS Implementation Strategy through a systematic, country-driven process. The document has three parts:
- Part A provides a background and context for the GHS. It first introduces the concept of chemical hazard communication and provides an overview of key GHS provisions including an overview of the hazard classes and details on hazard communication.
- Part B introduces issues related to coordinating GHS capacity building and implementation, from the key sectors affected by GHS implementation (i.e. workplaces, agriculture, transport and consumer products) to the key actors involved in GHS implementation at the national level (i.e. government, business and industry, and civil society).
- Part C provides guidance on developing a National GHS Implementation Strategy. A number of annexes provide further details on the context of the GHS and additional resources for further information on the system.
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