The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is an internationally agreed-upon standard managed by the United Nations. It was established to replace the assortment of hazardous material classification and labelling schemes previously used around the world. The GHS is a system of hazard communication for chemical hazards that can be adopted by countries worldwide. Its main purpose is to provide a standardized approach to classifying and labelling chemicals, as well as to harmonize safety data sheets (SDSs) and other hazard communication tools.
The GHS was developed because many different countries had different systems for classifying and labelling chemical products. Even within the same country, several different systems could exist, resulting in different hazard classifications, labels, or SDSs for the same product. The GHS includes criteria for the classification of health, physical, and environmental hazards, as well as specifying what information should be included on labels of hazardous chemicals and safety data sheets. The United States was an active participant in the development of the GHS and is a member of the UN bodies established to maintain and coordinate its implementation.
