A meeting on the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals has taken place in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Global Thematic Workshop on Strengthening Capacities to Implement the GHS was held from 15-18 November 2005. It was organized by UNITAR in collaboration with ILO, the Government of South Africa and the University of Cape Town (UCT), with financial support from the Government of Switzerland and the OPCW. During the four day event, participants exchanged experiences with GHS capacity building and implementation, took stock of current activities and needs, and undertook a review of guidance materials and methodology. In particular, participants highlighted that: GHS implementation and sound chemical hazard communication is essential for sustainable development, including implementation of the MDGs; countries should include GHS implementation within the context of national industrial and sustainable development strategies; and donor governments are encouraged to increase their level of support for developing national GHS implementation strategies.
The event followed an earlier regional workshop on chemical hazard communication and GHS implementation for countries of the ASEAN region, which was held from 17-20 October 2005, in Manila, the Philippines. The draft reports of these workshops will be made available on the UNITAR website during December 2005. For further information, e-mail: Jonathan Krueger, Programme Officer, UNITAR.
Link to further information
UNITAR web site