[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 227 (Monday, November 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59041-59042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29381]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs (OES)

[Public Notice 3848]


Public Meeting To Discuss the International Harmonization of 
Chemical Hazard Classification and Labeling Systems

SUMMARY: The United States Government, through an interagency working 
group, has been participating in the international effort to develop a 
globally harmonized system (GHS) of chemical hazard classification and 
labeling. The Department of State will hold a public meeting for 
interested parties, including industry representatives and public 
interest groups, on Wednesday, November 28, 2001, from 11:30 AM to 1 PM 
in Room 6200-6204 of the Nassif Building, at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC. Attendees should 
bring picture identification with them; no advance registration is 
necessary. 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; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The globally harmonized system for chemical hazard classification 
and labeling (GHS) is a voluntary system that provides a common and 
coherent approach to define and classify hazards, and communicate this 
information on labels and safety data sheets. The GHS will promote the 
sound management of chemicals by ensuring that coherent information is 
provided on all imported and exported chemicals, and facilitate trade 
by eliminating the need to comply with multiple classification and 
labeling systems.
    The public meeting will provide an update on GHS activities since 
the previous meeting on May 8, 2001. (See Department of State Public 
Notice 3651 on page 21430 of the Federal Register of April 30, 2001.) 
The meeting will also preview the key topics of the Second Session of 
the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized 
System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, that will take 
place in Geneva, December 12-14, 2001.
    Agencies participating in the interagency group include the 
Department of State, Occupational Safety and Health Administration,

[[Page 59042]]

Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, 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 additional information on the harmonization process, 
please refer to the Department of State Public Notice 2526, pages 
15951-15957 of the Federal Register of April 3, 1997.

Recent International Meetings

     Seventh Meeting of the International Labor Organization 
Working Group for the Harmonization of Chemical Hazard Communication, 
May 21-24, 2001, Geneva, Switzerland. Participants achieved consensus 
on most elements of the GHS, including symbols, signal words, hazard 
statements and safety data sheets.
     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 Coordinating Group completed its work and 
submitted the final document to the UN GHS Sub-Committee.
     Nineteenth Session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of 
Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, July 2-6, 2001, Geneva, 
Switzerland. The Sub-Committee agreed on classification criteria for 
aerosol flammability and recommended a harmonized symbol shape/border.
     First Session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of 
Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and 
Labeling of Chemicals, July 9-11, 2001, Geneva, Switzerland. This Sub-
Committee is responsible for promoting adoption of the GHS, and 
updating the system as necessary. The Sub-Committee elected officers, 
considered requests for consultative status, received progress reports 
on the GHS development and considered plans for implementation.

Upcoming Meetings

     Second Session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of 
Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and 
Labeling of Chemicals, December 12-14, 2001, Geneva, Switzerland. The 
Sub-Committee will review the GHS document prepared by the IOMC 
Coordinating Group that integrates the physical, health and 
environmental classification criteria and hazard communication 
elements; and consider implementation issues. Meeting documents are 
available on the web at: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/dgsubc4/c4doc_2001.html.
     The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 
(OECD) Task Force on Harmonization of Classification and Labeling is 
considering the development of classification criteria for aspiration 
hazards, water-activated toxicity, respiratory irritation and narcotic 
effects.
    The Department of State is issuing this notice to help ensure that 
interested and potentially affected parties are aware of and 
knowledgeable about the GHS, and have an opportunity to offer comments. 
Those organizations/individuals that cannot attend the 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 developments by email should contact Mary Frances 
Lowe at [email protected].

    Dated: November 19, 2001.
Robert J. Ford,
Acting Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 01-29381 Filed 11-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P