On April 9, 2021, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection published on the Official Journal of Colombia, which regulates the application of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemical Products in the workplace. According to Resolution 0773/2021, classification and labeling of chemical products, and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) shall be made based on GHS (Rev.6) in Spanish. However, carcinogenicity classification shall be made based on the requirements of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
As to Resolution 0773/2021:
The grace period for pure substances and diluted solutions shall be 24 months and it has entered into force since April 7, 2023; grace period for mixtures thereof shall be 36 months and shall enter into force on April 7, 2024.
Resolution 0773/2021 requires all hazardous chemicals used in workplace must have labels. The following items shall be contained in labels:
- Product identification;
- Details of the supplier of SDS;
- Pictogram;
- Warning signal;
- Hazard identification; and
- Precautionary statements.
As to non-hazardous chemicals, at a minimum product identification, information of the supplier and precautionary statements shall be indicated. As to labels for small packages (whose volume is lower than 30ml), product name and hazard pictogram shall be indicated.
If chemicals are stored in stationary tanks, labels must be posted at any discharge sites or in any other places where workers may come into contact. Additional information shall be indicated on labels, such as batch number of chemicals inside. Label sizes shall be subject to the requirements of EU Regulation 1272/2008, and label sizes shall be in proportion to the size and shape of containers.
Resolution 0773/2021 also sets threshold/concentration limits for mixtures whose ingredients are classified as carcinogens, reproductive toxicity, and specific target organ toxicity, and the thresholds for mixture classification. Ingredients that cause acute toxicity, skin corrosion or eye damage, reproductive toxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, specific target organ toxicity, or skin/respiratory sensitization shall be indicated on the label.
According to Article 16 of Resolution 0773/2021:
- Employers have to guarantee that manufacturers, importers, and suppliers of hazardous chemicals shall provide SDSs and stick them in the workplace where hazardous chemicals are used and stored.
- Local emergency telephone number with 24 hours, 7 days a week available shall be provided on SDSs whether it is fixed or mobile.
- The exposure controls in section 8 of SDSs shall comply with those established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) that enters into force on the date of SDS preparation or updating.
- The SDSs should also provide personal protective equipment, such as protective gloves and filters.
- Moreover, employers must review the information on labels and SDSs at least every five years. If there are significant changes to the information, it must be updated promptly.
- As to confidential business info (CBI), it may omit substance name, descriptions of mixture components, and CAS numbers.
Furthermore, to establish a national inventory of industrial chemicals in Colombia, products identified as hazardous chemicals under GHS must be registered through the official platform (www.sical.gov.co) before May 30, 2025. Single substances, multi-component substances, and mixtures shall make registrations. When making registrations, SDSs and labels are deemed as the most significant materials.