Globally Harmonized System (GHS)

What is GHS?

GHS supports the protection of human health and the environment by providing an internationally comprehensible system for hazard communication. Countries within the United Nations have worked alongside industry representatives and key stakeholders to determine a classification and labeling system to be used worldwide, known as the ’Globally Harmonized System’ (GHS).

The main objectives of GHS are to:

• Have a unified standard for the classification and communication of hazardous chemicals to facilitate international trade in chemicals and enhance the protection of human health and the environment
• Inform users about these hazards through standard symbols and phrases on the packaging labels and through Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

New legislation is being introduced to implement GHS across Europe, United States and Brazil. You can discover more about GHS from the UN Economic Commission at unece.org.

• Our labels and SDS will reflect GHS changes to communicate hazardous chemicals to those handling Castrol products
• Labels and SDS will feature new pictograms, hazard determination and safety information
• The introduction of the changes is being phased over time, not all labels and SDS will reflect the changes simultaneously

Safety is at the heart of everything Castrol does

We aim to develop and deliver products to the highest standards of quality and safety. Although the rules require changes in Europe, US and Brazil, we’re applying the changes globally on a rolling basis, as we want to make sure our customers can operate in line with the latest safety and compliance standards.

The new hazard label symbols used under current legislation will be superseded by a series of nine GHS pictograms within a red diamond.

To find out more download our GHS Brochure.