USA - GHS Status

GHS implementation status

Focal points

Department of Transportation (DOT): Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

Department of Labor: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Transport of dangerous goods

Implemented

For international transport of dangerous goods, see “Implementation through international legal instruments, recommendations, codes and guidelines”

National transport of dangerous goods is regulated by the Hazardous Materials Regulations (Title 49 CFR Parts 100 -185). The regulations applicable to the transport of dangerous goods (Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations) have been updated to reflect the 20th revised edition of the UN Model Regulations (See the Final rule 85 FR 27810 of 11 May 2020).

Workplace

Implemented

On 26 March 2012 OSHA published the revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) in the Federal Register.

The revised HCS is in line with the third revised edition of the GHS. It became mandatory on 1 June 2015 after a transitional period of 3 years. OSHA is conducting rulemaking to harmonize the HCS to the latest edition of the GHS and to codify a number of enforcement policies that have been issued since the 2012 standard.

Additional information and guidance is available at OSHA's website

Pesticides

Main relevant legislation

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA)

EPA has not adopted GHS for pesticide product classification and labeling.

Following implementation of the GHS by OSHA for the workplace and its implications for Safety Data Sheets, EPA issued a Pesticide Registration Notice ((PR) (Notice 2012-1) on 20 April 2012, to clarify its policy in order to avoid potential inconsistencies between EPA-approved labels for pesticides regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the SDSs that OSHA requires for these chemicals under the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS).

Information on how GHS implementation in the GHS affects pesticide labelling can be found on the EPA website

Consumer products

Main relevant legislation

Consumer Product Safety Act

Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA)

In 2007, CPSC compared selected portions of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) regulatory requirements to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for classification and labeling. This comparison identified some of the technical differences between the FHSA and GHS. A preliminary legal feasibility assessment was also conducted to assess what, if any, changes would be needed to the FHSA should certain provisions of the GHS be adopted and implemented. The staff work indicated that a more complete technical comparison was needed. In 2008, CPSC initiated a contract to complete a side-by side comparison of the FHSA and the GHS. This review was intended to determine which sections of the GHS could be considered for implementation, as well as whether statutory or regulatory changes would be necessary for eventual implementation.

No further information has been made available since then.