New rules for classifying and marking
MARITIME SERVICE: The EU has adopted new rules for classifying and labelling chemical substances and products. The rules will mean global harmonisation of the rules for classifying and labelling chemicals which will in time apply worldwide
This should be regarded as an advantage especially for the maritime sector. Specifically, this also means that the present rectangular orange hazard symbols are being replaced by the hazard symbols currently used for marking dangerous goods. However, there will be some new symbols to cover the long-term effects of chemicals that are not found in labelling for transport.
A lengthy deadline has been set for implementing the rules. Pure substances are to be classified according to the new rules by 1 December 2010 whilst products will have to comply with them by 2015. There are slightly longer deadlines (2 years) for substances and products already on the market.
Seahealth Denmark's Safety & Health at Sea program that is used by much of the Danish merchant fleet includes a module for managing the chemicals used aboard. This module is based on the current classification and labelling rules. So we have taken the initiative to update the software so as to be ready for the new rules by 1 December 2010.
Source: seahealth.dk
