Australia has completed the transition to GHS 7. 

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) classifies chemicals by types of hazard, aiming to communicate information about hazardous chemicals on labels and safety data sheets. 

The United Nations created GHS to be a single, global method to classify chemicals. 

From 1 January 2023, authorities have required the 7th revised edition of the GHS (GHS 7) to be used, after Australia transitioned from using the 3rd revised edition of the GHS (GHS 3) to GHS 7 in 2021. 

Now, Safe Work Australia has announced GHS 7 is the only system available to classify newly manufactured and imported hazardous chemicals and prepare their labels and safety data sheets (SDS) across Australia.

“Thank you to all manufacturers and importers of hazardous chemicals for adopting GHS 7 over the transition period<’ the authority said in a statement. 

“This change will ensure that labels and SDS use up-to-date hazard classification and communication, and align Australia with our key international trading partners.”

Safe Work Australia has updated the Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace, Model Code of Practice: Labelling of workplace hazardous chemicals, Model Code of Practice: Preparation of a safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals and the Classifying hazardous chemicals – National guide, as well as other fact sheets on hazardous chemicals to reflect the adoption of GHS 7.