Russia to harmonise legislation in line with REACH and GHS

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade intends to introduce draft legislation in April 2009 to amend the law, On the Safety of Chemical Production.   The proposed measures to be discussed within the Russian government focus on technical regulations regarding the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) guidelines.  If adopted, the amendments would help bring Russian law in line with EU and Council of the European Community directives, including acts concerning the rules of registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals (REACH).   The scope of the amended technical regulations is sweeping, covering numerous classifications of chemical products such as gas, pig iron, ferroalloys, foundry alloys, steel, nonferrous metals and their raw materials, alloys and compounds, organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, chemical fertilizers, polymers, plastics, chemical fiber and rubber, paint materials, photographic materials, magnetic materials, household chemical products, synthetic dyes, wood products, rubber and asbestos products, chemical and chemical reagents, as well as petrochemical products.   According to lawmakers, the adoption of the proposed technical regulations would facilitate the study of the hazardous properties of chemical products, raise awareness of market participants about the properties of chemical products, and encourage market participants to use the safest chemical products.  In addition to enhancing the safety of chemical production in Russia, the proposed legislation would facilitate the removal of trade barriers for European and Russian producers of chemical products.