DECLARATION OF GROUP II HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
Title: Hazardous Substances Act (15/1973): Group Ii, Hazardous Substances: Declaration
Government Gazette Notice: GN 1243 in GG 40346 of 14 October 2016
Commencing date: Not yet specified
The Minister of National Health may, by notice in the Gazette, declare any substance or mixture of substances which, in the course of customary or reasonable handling or use, including ingestion, might, by reason of its toxic, corrosive, irritant, strongly sensitizing or flammable nature or because it generates pressure through decomposition, heat or other means, cause injury, ill-health or death to human beings, to be a Group I or a Group II hazardous substance. The result of such a declaration is that specific requirements pertaining to the sale of these substances become applicable.
Currently all substances and goods specified in the South African Bureau of Standards’ latest Code of Practice 0228: The identification and classification of dangerous substances and goods with the exception of Class 1: Explosives and Class 7: Radioactive Substances, have been declared to be Group II hazardous substances. In this notice the Minister proposes to declare the following substances, or and mixtures containing such substances, products or materials as Group II hazardous substances: Any substance or mixture of substances which is listed in Annexure C of the South African Bureau of Standards latest Code of Practice 0228: The identification and classification of dangerous goods for transport by road and rail modes with exception of Class 1: Explosives and Class 7: Radioactive Substances; and which in the course of customary or reasonable handling or use, including ingestion, by reason of its;
a) skin corrosion/irritation, category 1A, or 1B or 1C or
b) serous eye damage/eye irritation, category 1 or 2A or 2B or;
c) respiratory sensitization, category 1; or
d) specific target organ toxicity-single exposure, category 2 or 3;
e) specific target organ toxicity-repeated exposure, category 2 or;
f) aspiration hazard, category 1 or 2 or;
g) acute toxicity oral skin or inhalation, category 3 or 4 or 5 or;
h) skin sensitization, category 1 or;
i) germ cell mutagenicity, category 2 or;
j) carcinogenicity, category 2 or;
k) reproductive toxicity, category 2 or;
l) aspiration hazard category 1 or 2;
as classified according to the hazard classification prescribed in the SANS 10234: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and if not falling within the Group I hazardous substances classification.
Specific requirements are applicable to the handling of Group II hazardous substances. These requirements relate to, amongst others, the appointment of analysts of Group II hazardous substances and procedures to be followed when Inspectors take samples of Group II hazardous substances.
Interested persons are invited to submit substantiated comments or representations on the proposed Notice to the address specified in the notice within 3 months.
