EU Commission seeks feedback on proposed REACH SDS changes

The European Commission has opened a consultation to seek views on amendments to REACH Annex II concerning safety data sheets (SDSs).
 

The proposed changes to the Regulation, scheduled to enter into force from 1 January 2020, will align with new UN requirements.
 

The UN's Globally Harmonised System (GHS) sets out internationally harmonised criteria for the classification and labelling of chemicals and rules on SDSs. As the EU has confirmed its intention to incorporate these into Union law, the requirements of REACH Annex II will be adapted to the rules in the sixth and seventh revision of the GHS.
 

The Commission says that because operators need to comply with the relevant obligations of CLP Annex VIII from 1 January 2021, "for reasons of consistency" REACH Annex II should reflect those changes as well.