Notice of a Public Meeting Regarding Government Activities on International Harmonization of Chemical Classification and Labeling Systems

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 68 (Friday, April 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 17435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8915]



[[Page 17435]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3024]


Notice of a Public Meeting Regarding Government Activities on 
International Harmonization of Chemical Classification and Labeling 
Systems

AGENCY: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs (OES), Department of State.

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SUMMARY: This public meeting will provide an update on current 
activities related to international harmonization since the previous 
public meeting, conducted January 11, 1999 (See Department of State 
Public Notice 2955 on pages 1266-1267 of the Federal Register of 
January 8, 1999). The meeting will also offer interested organizations 
and individuals the opportunity to provide information and views for 
consideration in the development of United States Government policy 
positions. For more complete information on the harmonization process, 
please refer to State Department Public Notice 2526, pages 15951-15957 
of the Federal Register of April 3, 1997.
    The meeting will take place from 10 a.m. until noon on May 27, 
1999, in Room N 5437 A-D, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. Attendees should use the entrance at C and 
Third Streets NW. To facilitate entry, please have a picture ID 
available and/or a U.S. Government building pass if applicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to submit 
written comments or information, please contact Mary Frances Lowe, U.S. 
Department of State, OES/ENV, Room 4325, 2201 C Street NW., Washington, 
D.C. 20520. Phone (202) 647-4284, fax (202) 647-5947. A public docket 
is also available for review at the Department of Labor (OSHA docket H-
022H).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of State is announcing a 
public meeting of the interagency committee concerned with the 
international harmonization of chemical hazard classification and 
labeling systems (an effort referred to as the ``globally harmonized 
system'' or GHS). The purpose of the meeting is to provide interested 
groups and individuals with an update on activities since the January 
11, 1999, public meeting, a preview of upcoming international meetings, 
and an opportunity to submit additional information and comments for 
consideration in developing U.S. Government positions. Representatives 
of the following agencies participate in the interagency group: the 
Department of State, the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
Department of Transportation, the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and 
Drug Administration, the Department of Commerce, the Department of 
Agriculture, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the 
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
    The Agenda of the public meeting will include:

1. Introduction
2. Reports on recent international meetings
--Second meeting of the Inter-Organization Program for the Sound 
Management of Chemicals (IOMC)/International Labour Organisation 
Working Group on Hazard Communication, January 26-27, 1999, Geneva 
Switzerland.
--Thirteenth Consultation of Coordinating Group for the Harmonization 
of Chemical Classification Systems, January 28-29, 1999, Geneva 
Switzerland.
--Third meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development Expert Group on Classification Criteria for Mixtures, 
February 1-3, 1999, Paris France.
3. Preparation for upcoming meetings
--Third meeting of the Inter-Organization Program for the Sound 
Management of Chemicals (IOMC)/International Labour Organisation 
Working Group on Hazard Communication, June 21-23, 1999, Dublin, 
Ireland. This group will consider final terms of reference and 
preparation of a detailed review document describing current hazard 
communications programs.
--Fourteenth Consultation of the Coordinating Group for the 
Harmonization of Chemical Classification Systems, June 24-25, 1999, 
Dublin, Ireland. Among other issues, this group will consider long and 
short terms implementation issues and more detailed terms of reference 
for an ongoing joint committee on transport of dangerous goods and the 
GHS and a GHS subcommittee.
--Fourth meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development Expert Group on Classification Criteria for Mixtures, June 
28-29, 1999, Dublin, Ireland. This group will focus on approaches and 
options for harmonization of existing systems for classifying chemical 
mixtures according to their health and environmental hazards.
--UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, July 5-
16, 1999, Geneva, Switzerland.
4. Public Comments
5. Concluding Remarks

    Interested parties are invited to submit their comments as soon as 
possible for consideration in the development of U.S. positions and to 
present their views orally and/or in writing at the public meeting. 
Participants may address other topics relating to harmonization of 
chemical classification and labeling systems and are particularly 
invited to identify issues of concern to specific sectors that may be 
affected by the GHS. Participants who attended and participated in 
recent international sessions may also offer their observations on the 
results of the sessions.
    All written comments will be placed in the public docket (OSHA 
docket H-022H). The docket is open from 10 am until 4 pm, Monday 
through Friday, and is located at the Department of Labor, Room 2625, 
200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC. (Telephone: 202-219-7894; 
Fax: 202-219-5046). The public may also consult the docket to review 
previous Federal Register notices, comment received, Questions and 
Answers about the GHS, a response to comments on the April 3, 1997, 
Federal Register notice, and other relevant documents.

    Dated: April 2, 1999.
Michael Metelits,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
[FR Doc. 99-8915 Filed 4-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-M