Gulf Cooperation Council: The Global Harmonized system (GHS) published for approval

 

The GCC states have published the standard GSO/TC01 /FDS/ GSO2654:2025, adopting the Global harmonized system.

This Gulf Technical Regulation applies to all substances and mixtures that are supplied, used, and/or manufactured in the Member Countries of the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO), except where more specific classification and labelling requirements are established under other legislation of the GSO Member Countries.

The objective of this Gulf Technical Regulation is to ensure the implementation of the internationally recognised system for the classification of chemicals in order to promote safety and environmental protection throughout the lifecycle of chemicals, including their production, transport, handling, use, and disposal. This objective is achieved through the following elements:

1. Criteria for the classification of substances and mixtures based on their physical, health, and environmental hazards;
2. Hazard communication requirements, including provisions on labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs);
3. Labelling of chemicals in accordance with the classification criteria and hazard communication requirements set out in this Regulation.

This Technical Regulation does not apply to:

• Radioactive substances and mixtures;
• Non-isolated intermediates;
• Substances and mixtures intended for scientific research and development;
• Substances and mixtures in the form of consumer products, such as pharmaceuticals for human and veterinary use, cosmetics, detergents, air fresheners packaged and prepared for individual or household consumption, and food products that may contain pesticide residues. However, Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for these products may be provided on a voluntary basis.

This Technical Regulation does not establish test methods, nor does it require or encourage additional testing of chemicals.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is exempt from the application of this Technical Regulation due to the existence of national legislation that conflicts with its application as a technical regulation.

The following documents are relevant references for this Technical Regulation:

• GSO 2654:2021, The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries;
• The first draft of The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries;
• United Nations, Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), Tenth revised edition, 2023.

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is a system developed by the United Nations to classify chemicals according to their hazard types and to harmonise hazard communication through labels and Safety Data Sheets. As set out in the tenth revised edition of the GHS published in 2023, the system serves as a key tool for communicating chemical hazards throughout the supply chain and is widely regarded as a cornerstone of the sound management of chemicals.

To find out more about global compliance for chemicals, do not hesitate to contact the Product Compliance Institute.