OSHA Schedules Public Meetings to Inform U.S. Position on UN GHS Updates

What Happened

OSHA has announced a pair of virtual public meetings designed to gather stakeholder input ahead of international sessions regarding the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). These meetings serve as the primary forum for U.S. industry professionals to influence the positions taken by the U.S. government during upcoming United Nations discussions.

The first of these virtual sessions is scheduled for June 23 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. This meeting focuses specifically on preparations for the 49th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS), which will take place in July.

Why It Matters

For chemical buyers and EHS leads, these meetings represent a critical window into potential changes in international labeling and classification standards. Because the U.S. aligns its Hazard Communication Standard with GHS, the positions developed during these sessions often foreshadow future regulatory shifts in domestic safety documentation and workplace requirements.

The U.S. government intends to use the information gathered during these public forums to finalize its stance on various technical working documents. This process ensures that U.S. commercial and safety interests are represented when the UN Sub-Committee meets to update the global framework for chemical safety data.

Key Details

The schedule for the upcoming regulatory sessions and preparatory meetings includes several critical dates for industrial operators and compliance officers to track:

• June 23: First virtual public meeting hosted by OSHA.
• July 8–10: 49th Session of the UNSCEGHS in Geneva.
• November: Second virtual public meeting (specific date to be announced).
• December 2–4: 50th Session of the UNSCEGHS in Geneva.

According to a notice published on May 15, OSHA is working in tandem with the U.S. Interagency GHS Coordinating Group. This group is tasked with considering all gathered comments and information when developing the formal U.S. government positions for both the July and December international meetings.

What To Watch Next

Stakeholders should review the provisional agenda and working documents already available on the UNSCE webpage to identify specific classification or labeling changes that may impact their operations. The feedback provided during the June meeting will directly shape the U.S. delegation's priorities during the July sessions in Geneva.

Following the summer sessions, the industry should look for a second announcement regarding the November public meeting. This later session will address the agenda for the 50th UNSCEGHS meeting in December, providing another opportunity for industrial operators to voice concerns or support for proposed global chemical standards.