Malaysia's Industry Code of Practice on Chemicals Classification and Hazard Communication (ICoP)

GHS has been introduced to Malaysia via CLASS Regulations issued in Oct 2013 and the Industry Code of Practice on Chemicals Classification and Hazard Communication(ICOP) issued on 16 April 2014. Industry has been given one year grace period to comply with CLASS Regulations and ICOP since ICOP was published.

ICOP is promulgated as a guidance to help the industry comply with CLASS Regulations. It sets out detailed requirements on chemical classifications, labelling and safety data sheets (SDS).

ICOP consists of four parts:

• Part I: List of Classified Chemicals
• Part II: Chemicals Classification
• Part III: Hazard Communication: Labelling and Safety Data Sheet
• Part IV: Confidential Business Information

Classification & Building Blocks in ICOP

The Part I of ICOP contains a list of chemical substances that have been classified by DOSH. For hazardous substances on the list, companies must use the classifications given on the list.

For substances not on the list, companies shall use classification criteria given in Part II to classify their chemicals. The classification criteria are aligned with UN GHS Rev. 3. The following building blocks are not adopted by Malaysisa.

• Flammable Liquids Cate. 4;
• Acute Toxicity Cate. 5;
• Skin corrosion/irritation Cate. 3;
• Aspiration Cate. 2;
• Acute Aquatic Hazards Cate. 2 & 3;

Labelling

• Minimum font size: 7 points;
• Pictogram size: one fifteenth of the surface area of a label(minimum 10 mm x 10 mm);
• Small package (<=125 ml): hazard and precautionary statements can be omitted; plus a statement "read SDSs before use".
• Language: in both national language and English;
• Label size: depending on package volume(please refer to the table below).

More info about ICOP
http://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/Malaysia/Industry_Code_of_Practice_on_Chemicals_Classification_and_Hazard_Communication.html

Malaysia's Environmentally Hazardous Substances Notification and Registration (EHSNR) Scheme

Malaysia's Environmentally Hazardous Substances Notification and Registration (EHSNR) scheme started in 2009 as a voluntary scheme. Since it has never been written into a law, it remains as voluntary and industries can continue to do the registration and notification on a voluntary basis up to date.

EHSNR encourages manufacturers and importers of environmentally hazardous substances (EHS) to submit EHS notifications to the Department of Environment (DoE) when the substances are manufactured or imported above certain amounts.

Purpose of EHSNR

The objective of EHSNR is to collect information from industry about the hazardous substances that are on the Malaysian market by introducing a notification requirement for such substances manufactured in or imported to Malaysia.

EHSNR will provide necessary information that will enable the Department of Environment(DoE) to establish the Malaysian Chemicals Register and work with other agencies to identify substances of concern in the country.

Definition of an Environmentally Hazardous Substance (EHS)

An EHS is a substance that is included in the EHS Reference List, or if not on the list, must be assigned a hazard category under the GHS classification scheme, as implemented by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health Malaysia.

- See more at: http://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/Malaysia/Malaysia_EHSNR_Environmentally_Hazardous_Substances_Notification_and_Registration_Scheme.html

Malaysia's CLASS Regulations - The Occupational Safety and Health (Classification, Labelling and Safety Data Sheet of Hazardous Chemicals) Regulations 2013

The Occupational Safety and Health (Classification, Labelling and Safety Data Sheet of Hazardous Chemicals) Regulations 2013 (known as CLASS Regulations) were gazetted on 11 October 2013 and officially introduced GHS into Malaysia.

A manufacturer or importer is required to prepare an inventory of hazardous chemicals, imported or supplied in a quantity of 1 ton per year or above for each calendar year. Such an inventory shall be submitted to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health no later than 31 March in the following year.

CLASS regulations also require chemical manufacturers, importers, formulators, and distributors to classify, label and package chemicals, and compile safety data sheets according to the Industry Code of Practice(ICOP) which is aligned with UN GHS Rev. 3.

Scope of CLASS Regulations

CLASS Regulations only apply to chemicals supplied for use at a place of work. The regulations do not apply to:

• Radio-active materials;
• Wastes;
• Cosmetics or pharmaceuticals;
• Pesticides;
• A chemical used for R&D(less than 5kgs);
• A chemical in transit prior to export;
• Articles not containing chemicals intended to be released;

Notification of Inventory of Hazardous Chemicals

A manufacturer or importer shall compile an inventory of hazardous chemicals (substance or mixture) supplied in the quantity of 1t/y or above. The inventory shall include the following information:

• Product identifier;
• Name of each hazardous chemical;
• Composition and ingredients of each hazardous chemical;
• Hazard classification;
• Total quantity of each hazardous chemical supplied;

The inventory of hazardous chemicals for each calendar year shall be notified to the Director General no later than 31 March in the following year. The first notification starts on 1 Jan 2016 for the inventory of hazardous chemicals supplied in 2015 and ends on 31 March 2016.

- See more at: 

http://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/Malaysia/Malaysia_CLASS_Regulations_GHS.html