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Information about the status of the implementation of GHS in Japan

Classification Results GHS Classification Manual Technical Guidance Contact Us
GHS Official Text GHS Pictograms Guidance on a Consumer Product
Risk Assessment for GHS Labelling

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) which addresses the classification of chemicals by hazard types and harmonized communication tools was approved and published by the United Nations (UN) GHS Sub-committee. The UN encourages countries to implement GHS worldwide by 2008. In responce to GHS, Japan launched GHS Inter-ministerial Committee in 2001. The following are the GHS implementation milestones conducted in Japan so far:

  • Translations of GHS-related UN documents into Japanese;
  • Publication of the GHS Classification Manual and the Technical Guidance used for GHS classification; and,
  • Classification of approximately 1,500 chemicals by GHS.

In order to implement GHS-based labeling and MSDS requirements in Japan, the Industrial Safety and Health Law was amended and enforced in 2006.
In parallel, the Japanese Industrial Standards, JIS Z7250:2005(Safety Data Sheet for chemical products: Part 1 – Content and order of sections)and JIS Z7251:2006(Labelling of chemicals based on GHS)were amended and published in accordance with GHS.

 The English translated versions of the GHS Classification Manual, the Technical Guidance and the Japanese results of the classification can be downloaded from the following links:

GHS Classification Manual

GHS Classification Manual Full Text [PDF MarkPDF:586KB]
 The main objective of the Classification Manual is to facilitate the classification of the 1,500 chemicals within a limited schedule, and to eliminate any discrepancies in classification among experts. One unique point of this manual is that it allows users to refer to only reliable data sources for the classification of hazards, such as those peer-reviewed by international authorities, and non-peer-reviewed original data is not generally used. This enables industries to save time by only checking peer-reviewed information.

(1) Cover Page/ Table of Contents/ Chapter 1
(2) Chapter1(cont.) Classification of Workflow
(3) Chapter2 Physical and Chemical Hazards
(4) Chapter3 Health Hazards
(5) Chapter4 Environmental Hazards

Technical Guidance

The Technical Guidance on GHS classification Full Text [PDF MarkPDF:409KB]
 The technical Guidance on GHS classification provided realistic approach for GHS 1500 classification experts. However, it is NOT considered to be globally comprehensive, although it keeps many consistencies to GHS official text.

(1) Acute toxicity
(2) Skin corrosion/irritation
(3) Serious eye damage/eye irritation
(4) Respiratory or skin sensitization
(5) Germ cell mutagenicity
(6) Carcinogenicity
(7) Reproductive toxicity
(8) Specific target organ systemic toxicity - Single exposure
(9) Specific target organ systemic toxicity - Repeated exposure
(10) Aspiration hazard
(11) Addendum

Results of the classification

The results of the classification for approximately 1,500 chemicals are downloaded from the following links, conducted by the Japanese GHS Inter-ministerial Committee in 2006 and translated into English by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Japan.
Please be aware that the information is temporal and may be subject to revision.

Contact Us

For enquiries regarding the GHS Classification Manuals, the Technical Guidance and the results of the classification, please contact:

Chemical Management Policy Division
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

tel: +81-3-3501-0080
fax: +81-3-3580-6347
Email: qqhbbf@meti.go.jp

For any other enquiries, please contact:

Chemical Management Center
National Institute of Technology and Evaluation
2-49-10 Nishihara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-0066 Japan

tel: +81-3-3481-1977
fax: +81-3-3481-2900
Email: safe@nite.go.jp