Australia completes GHS 7 transition

Australia Completes GHS 7 Transition

Australia has now fully adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Revision 7 (GHS 7) for all hazardous chemicals manufactured and imported nationwide. Manufacturers and importers of hazardous chemicals across the country are required to use this updated classification framework as the sole standard for chemical safety compliance.

The two-year transition period to adopt GHS 7 commenced on 1 January 2021 and ended on 31 December 2022, marking a significant milestone in national chemical safety regulation.

What This Means for Compliance

"GHS 7 is now the only system to classify newly manufactured and imported hazardous chemicals and prepare their labels and safety data sheets (SDS) across Australia," Safe Work Australia said in a statement.

Businesses handling dangerous substances must ensure their labelling and documentation practices reflect this classification system to maintain full compliance with current health and safety obligations. Organisations that fail to update their processes risk non-compliance with mandatory hazard communication requirements.

Why the GHS 7 Transition Matters for Safety

Consistent classification of hazardous substances supports clearer communication of health and safety risks across workplaces, supply chains, and borders. For technical professionals in construction, manufacturing, and healthcare, understanding these updated requirements is essential to protecting personnel and maintaining regulatory compliance.

Businesses should review existing safety data sheets and labels to confirm they align with GHS 7 requirements. Our related articles, including Safe Work Australia's reminder about the GHS 7 transition and coverage of the transitional period ending, offer further information on how this shift affects chemical safety documentation.

For businesses managing broader workplace safety obligations, resources such as the WA Construction Site OSHE Management Pack for Principal Contractors can support compliance across multiple safety domains, not just chemical classification.

Further Information

Additional information on the GHS 7 transition, including detailed guidance for businesses, is available through Safe Work Australia. Readers can also review our earlier coverage, Safe Work Australia issues GHS 7 reminder as deadline looms, for context on how the deadline was communicated to industry.