September 17, 2019
In June, the Brazil Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) updated its standards for classifying chemicals, bringing it in line with standard Globally Harmonized System (GHS) cut-off values/concentration limits, based on the seventh revised edition, published in 2017.
The changes to ABNT NBR 14725-2, Hazard Classification System, include the following changes:
- Simplification of Table 8 – classification of mixture as hazardous to the eyes
- Updates to:
- Table 10 – cut-off values/concentration limits determining classification of the mixture as a skin or respiratory sensitizer
- Table 14 – cut-off values/concentration limits determining classification of the mixture as a carcinogen
- Table 16 – cut-off values/concentration limits determining classification of the mixture for reproductive toxicity
- Table 19 – cut-off values/concentration limits determining classification of the mixture for specific target organ toxicity single exposure
- Table 23 – cut-off values/concentration limits determining classification of the mixture for specific target organ toxicity repeated exposure
The updates to the cut-off/concentration limit tables are as follows:
- Respiratory or skin sensitization – add subcategories 1A/B; change threshold from ≥ 0.1 % to ≥ 1 % for category 1/1B; add threshold for respiratory sensitization ≥ 0.2 % for category 1/1B
- Carcinogenicity – add subcategories 1A/B; change category 2 threshold from ≥ 0.1 % to ≥ 1 %
- Reproductive toxicity and lactation – add subcategories 1A/B; change category 1A/B and lactation. threshold from ≥ 0.1 % to ≥ 0.3 %; change category 2 threshold from ≥ 0.1 % to ≥ 3 %
- Specific target organ toxicity – single exposure – change category 1 threshold from 1% to 10%, whereby 1% of category 1 causes classification in cat 2; change category 2 threshold from 1% to 10%
- Specific target organ toxicity – repeated exposure – change category 1 threshold from 1% to 10%, whereby 1% of category 1 causes classification in cat 2; change category 2 threshold from 1% to 10%
Recommended Action Items:
- Assess your chemical inventory to determine if chemicals are classified into these GHS categories.
- Review the Brazil safety data sheets (SDSs) and labels for products containing these chemicals to determine if the products are classified properly and update the SDSs and labels as necessary.
Reference:
A copy of Standard ABNT NBR 14725: 2019 is available from the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT): https://www.abntcatalogo.com.br/norma.aspx?ID=418238