[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 199 (Friday, October 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61019-61020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26363]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs

[Public Notice No. 3441]


Public Meeting to Discuss Progress on International Harmonization 
of Chemical Hazard Classification and Labeling

SUMMARY: The United States government is preparing for a series of 
international meetings to further develop a globally harmonized system 
(GHS) of chemical hazard classification and labeling. The Department of 
State will hold a public meeting to update recent activities and 
preview upcoming international meetings on chemical hazard 
communication and GHS implementation.
    The public meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 24, 2000, 
from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm, in Room N5437 B&C, at the U.S. Department 
of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC. Attendees should 
use the entrance at C and Third Streets NW. No advance registration is 
necessary. However, attendees should bring picture identification with 
them. For further information, please contact Marie Ricciardone, U.S. 
Department of State, Office of Environmental Policy (OES/ENV), Room 
4325, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20520; telephone (202) 736-4660; 
fax (202) 647-5947; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of State is issuing this

[[Page 61020]]

notice to help ensure that interested organizations and individuals are 
informed about efforts to internationally harmonize chemical hazard 
classification and labeling, and have an opportunity to offer comments. 
Agencies participating in the U.S. government interagency group 
include: Department of State, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Department of Transportation, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Food and Drug 
Administration, Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture, 
Department of Energy, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and 
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. For more complete 
information on the GHS process, please refer to State Department Public 
Notice 2526, pages 15951-15957 of the Federal Register of April 3, 
1997.
    This meeting will summarize the GHS meetings that have taken place 
since the previous public meeting on August 10, 2000 (see Department of 
State Public Notice 3367 on pages 15951-15957 of the Federal Register 
of July 21, 2000):
     The Seventh Meeting of the Organization for Economic 
Cooperation and Development (OECD) Extended Expert Group on Aquatic 
Environmental Hazards (Paris, September 4-5) developed guidance for 
applying harmonized hazard classification criteria for the aquatic 
toxicity of chemical substances and further developed harmonized 
criteria for chemical mixtures.
     The Tenth Meeting of the OECD Task Force on Harmonization 
of Classification and Labeling (Paris, September 6-8) reached agreement 
on harmonized hazard classification criteria for several health effects 
for chemical mixtures; approved hazard classification criteria for 
target organ and systemic toxicity; and agreed to initiate the 
development of hazard classification criteria for aspiration hazards, 
water-activated corrosivity and toxicity, and respiratory irritation.
    Members of the interagency working group will also outline U.S. 
preparations for upcoming international meetings:
     The Sixth Meeting of the International Labor Organization 
(ILO) Working Group of Hazard Communication, October 30-November 2, 
Rome, Italy will develop and refine options for harmonized chemical 
hazard communication, such as labels and material safety data sheets.
     The Seventeenth Consultation of the IOMC Coordinating 
Group for the Harmonization of Chemical Classification Systems, 
November 2-3, Rome, Italy will consider the need for GHS guidance and 
other implementation issues.
     The Twenty-first Session of the United Nations Committee 
of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, December 5-14, Geneva, 
Switzerland will host a working group on classification criteria for 
physical hazards, focusing on aerosol flammability.
    Interested organizations and individuals are invited to present 
their views orally and/or in writing at the public meeting. 
Participants may address other topics relating to harmonization of 
chemical hazard classification and labeling systems, and identify 
issues of concern. Those organizations/individuals that cannot attend 
the October 24th meeting, but wish to submit a written comment, should 
provide Eunice Mourning, Office of Environmental Policy, U.S. 
Department of State (telephone 202-647-9266; fax 202-647-5947) with 
their statement and/or name, organization, address, telephone and fax 
numbers, and e-mail address. All written comments will be placed in the 
OSHA public docket (H-022H), which is open Monday through Friday, from 
10 am until 4 pm, at the Department of Labor, Room 2625, 200 
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC; telephone 202-219-7894; fax: 
202-219-5046. Interested organizations /individuals that wish to 
receive future notifications of GHS-related developments by email 
should contact Mary Frances Lowe of the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency at ``[email protected]''.

    Dated: October 2, 2000.
Daniel T. Fantozzi,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State
[FR Doc. 00-26363 Filed 10-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-U