[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 49834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23817]



[[Page 49834]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3121]


Notice of a Public Meeting Regarding Government Activities on 
International Harmonization of Chemical Classification and Labeling 
Systems

AGENCY: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs (OES).

SUMMARY: This public meeting will provide an update on current 
activities related to international harmonization since the previous 
public meeting, conducted May 27, 1999 (See Department of State Public 
Notice 3024 on page 17435 of the Federal Register of April 9, 1999.) 
The meeting will also offer interested organizations and individuals 
the opportunity to provide information and views for consideration in 
the development of United States Government policy positions. For more 
complete information on the harmonization process, please refer to 
State Department Public Notice 2526, pages 15951-15957 of the Federal 
Register of April 3, 1997.
    The meeting will take place from 1:00-3:00 pm on Wednesday, October 
6, 1999, in Room N 4437 C-D, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Attendees should use the entrance at C and 
Third Streets NW. To facilitate entry, please have a picture ID 
available and/or a U.S. Government building pass if applicable. No 
advance registration is necessary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to submit 
written comments or information, please contact Eunice Mourning, U.S. 
Department of State, OES/ENV, Room 4325, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, 
DC 20520, telephone (202) 647-9266, fax (202) 647-5947. A public docket 
is also available for review at the Department of Labor (OSHA docket H-
022H).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of State is announcing a 
public meeting of the interagency committee concerned with the 
international harmonization of chemical hazard classification and 
labeling systems (an effort referred to as the ``globally harmonized 
system'' or GHS). The purpose of the meeting is to provide interested 
groups and individuals with an update on activities since the May 27, 
1999, public meeting, a preview of upcoming international meetings, and 
an opportunity to submit additional information and comments for 
consideration in developing U.S. Government positions. Representatives 
of the following agencies participate in the interagency group: the 
Department of State, the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
Department of Transportation, the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and 
Drug Administration, the Department of Commerce, the Department of 
Agriculture, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the 
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
    The Agenda of the public meeting will include:

1. Introduction

2. Reports on Recent International Meetings

--Third Meeting of the Inter-Organization Program for the Sound 
Management of Chemicals (IOMC)/International Labour Organisation 
Working Group on Hazard Communication, June 21-23, 1999, Dublin, 
Ireland.
--Fourteenth Consultation of Coordinating Group for the Harmonization 
of Chemical Classification Systems, June 24-25, 1999, Dublin, Ireland.
--Fourth Meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development Expert Group on Classification Criteria for Mixtures, June 
28-29, 1999, Dublin, Ireland.
--UN Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, July 
5-15, 1999, Geneva, Switzerland.

3. Preparation for Upcoming Meetings

--Fourth Meeting of the Inter-Organization Program for the Sound 
Management of Chemicals (IOMC)/International Labour Organisation 
Working Group of Hazard Communication, November 1-4, 1999, Washington, 
DC. This group will consider issues relating to hazard communication 
label elements for the public and specialized audiences, and material 
safety data sheets for workers.
--Fifteenth Consultation of Coordinating Group for the Harmonization of 
Chemical Classification Systems, November 5, 1999, Washington, DC. This 
group will consider long and short term implementation issues and more 
detailed terms of reference for a joint committee on transport of 
dangerous goods and the GHS and a GHS subcommittee.
--Fifth Meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development Expert Group on Classification Criteria for Mixtures, 
November 8-9, 1999, Washington, DC. This group will focus on approaches 
and options for classifying mixtures according to their health and 
environmental hazards.
--UN Subcommittee on Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, 
December 6-17, 1999, Geneva, Switzerland. Among the issues under 
consideration will be classification criteria for flammable aerosols.

4. Public Comments

5. Concluding Remarks

    Interested parties are invited to submit their comments as soon as 
possible for consideration in the development of U.S. positions and to 
present their views orally and/or in writing at the public meeting. 
Participants may address other topics relating to harmonization of 
chemical classification and labeling systems and are particularly 
invited to identify issues of concern to specific sectors that may be 
affected by the GHS. Participants who attended and participated in 
recent international sessions may also offer their observations on the 
results of the sessions.
    All written comments will be placed in the public docket (OSHA 
docket H-022H). The docket is open from 10 am until 4 pm, Monday 
through Friday, and is located at the Department of Labor, Room 2625, 
200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC. (Telephone: 202-219-7894; 
Fax: 202-219-5046). The public may also consult the docket to review 
previous Federal Register notices, comment received, Questions and 
Answers about the GHS, a response to comments on the April 3, 1997. 
Federal Register notice, and other relevant documents.

    Dated: September 1, 1999.
Daniel T. Fantozzi,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
[FR Doc. 99-23817 Filed 9-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P