[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21429-21430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10665]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3651]


Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs (OES); Public Meeting To Discuss Progress on International 
Harmonization of Chemical Hazard Classification and Labeling Systems

SUMMARY: The United States Government is preparing for a series 
of

[[Page 21430]]

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 report on recent activities and 
preview upcoming meetings.
    The public meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 8, 2001, from 
1:00-3:00 PM in Room N4437 A,B&C at the Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC. Attendees should use the 
entrance at C and Third Streets NW. and should bring picture 
identification with them. No advance registration is necessary. For 
further information, please contact Marie Ricciardone, Department of 
State, Office of Environmental Policy; telephone (202)736-4660; fax 
(202)647-5947; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of State is issuing 
this notice to help ensure that interested organization and individuals 
are aware of and knowledgeable about the effort 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, 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 public meeting will provide an update on GHS activities and 
international meetings since the previous public meeting on October 24, 
2000 (see Department of State Public Notice 3341 on pages 61019-61020 
of the Federal Register of October 13, 2000), including:
     Sixth Meeting of the International Labor Organization 
Working Group for the Harmonization of Chemical Hazard Communication, 
October 30-November 2, 2000, Rome, Italy.
     Seventeenth Consultation of the Inter-Organization Program 
for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) Coordinating Group for the 
Harmonization of Chemical Classification Systems, November 2-3, 2000, 
Rome, Italy.
     Twenty-first Session of the United Nations Committee of 
Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, December 5-14, 2000, 
Geneva, Switzerland.
     Activities of the Organization for Economic Cooperation 
and Development (OECD) Task Force on Harmonization of Classification 
and Labeling. The Task Force is completing classification criteria for 
aquatic toxicity and skin/eye irritation/corrosion for chemical 
mixtures. It is also initiating work on aspiration hazards, water-
activated toxicity, and respiratory irritation.
    Members of the interagency group will also provide an overview of 
the U.S. preparations for upcoming international meetings, including:
     Seventh Meeting of the International Labor Organization 
Working Group for the Harmonization of Chemical Hazard Communication, 
May 21-24, 2001, Geneva, Switzerland. At this group's final meeting, 
participants will try to achieve consensus on GHS hazard communication, 
including standardized label elements (e.g., symbols and signal 
words) and a standardized format for material safety data sheets used 
in the workplace.
     Eighteenth Consultation of the Inter-Organization Program 
for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) Coordinating Group for the 
Harmonization of Chemical Classification Systems, May 24-25, 2001, 
Geneva, Switzerland. The IOMC will develop GHS guidance and try to 
achieve consensus on the initial GHS package. The group will also 
discuss plans for the first organizational meeting of the GHS 
subcommittee of experts, under the UN Economic and Social Council, July 
9-11, 2001, in Geneva, Switzerland.
     Nineteenth Session of the United Nations Subcommittee of 
Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, July 2-6, Geneva, 
Switzerland. This meeting will focus on classification criteria for 
aerosol flammability.
    Interested organizations and individuals are invited to present 
their views orally and/or in writing at the public meeting. Those 
organization/individuals that cannot attend the May 8 meeting may 
submit written comments to Marie Ricciardone, Department of State, OES/
ENV Room 4325, 2201 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20520. Comments will 
be placed in the OSHA public docket (H-022H), which is open 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 at [email protected].

    Dated: April 24, 2001.
Daniel T. Fantozzi,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 01-10665 Filed 4-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P