Pakistan is aiming to start classifying and labelling hazardous chemicals under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) from 1 January 2031, as part of a national adoption plan submitted to parliament.
The plan sets out how the country intends to align its chemicals management system, including the use of safety data sheets (SDSs), with international standards over a phased implementation period leading up to that date.
It outlines a five‑year transition period from 2026 to 2030, during which industry would move from existing domestic classification and labelling practices to GHS Rev.8 (GHS 8), or a later edition, ahead of the 2031 deadline. The framework applies across four sectors: industrial workplaces, consumer products, transport and agriculture.
Developed under the project 'Strengthening of national legislation and capacity building of stakeholders for sound chemicals and hazardous waste management in Pakistan' – a government initiative aimed at modernising chemicals legislation and building regulatory capacity – the plan was shared by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) in a written response to the National Assembly for its 2 April session.
In parallel, the ministry is working with the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) on a roadmap covering GHS training, implementation guidance and legislative options. The roadmap is expected by the end of the year, Oliver Wootton, senior programme officer in the UN’s Chemicals and Waste Management Programme, said during a webinar hosted by the Inter‑Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) on 5 May.
The adoption plan acknowledges that Pakistan currently lacks the legal and institutional infrastructure needed to implement GHS. It links future implementation to the Pakistan EPA (Pak‑EPA)'s draft Handling, Manufacture, Storage, Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Substances Rules 2016 – a proposed framework under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA), 1997.
Under these draft rules, imported hazardous substances would be required to carry UN GHS labels, and workplaces handling them would be subject to specific safety requirements. If approved, the rules would provide the legal basis for GHS adoption.
Timeline specifics
The implementation roadmap is divided into four phases running from July 2026 to June 2031.
The first phase focuses on coordination and communication, including establishing a national GHS coordinating committee, sectoral working groups and stakeholder committees within the first year.
The second phase involves a situation and gap analysis of legislation, institutional roles, administrative capacity, industry practices and hazard communication. This would be followed by legal analysis, development of an implementation framework and stakeholder workshops.
During the third phase, a draft national GHS implementation strategy would be prepared in the second half of year two, setting out activities, timelines, expected outcomes and responsible entities. This stage would also include developing a technical training strategy using internationally recognised materials, with input from industry and civil society.
The final phase covers execution of the strategy, including implementation activities and a transition period running from year three through year five, concluding in June 2031.
Coordination and enforcement
The plan proposes a phased approach beginning with the creation of a national chemicals coordination system, comprising a central committee and technical working groups involving industry, civil society and other stakeholders. MoCC&EC would lead this process, supported by ministries and agencies responsible for the environment, foreign affairs, health, standards, finance, trade and customs.
Once GHS is formally adopted, monitoring and enforcement would be handled by relevant authorities, potentially including worker health and safety bodies, consumer inspectorates and customs agencies. In its response to parliament, the ministry noted that responsibilities are currently spread across multiple bodies: MoCC&EC oversees national chemicals policy and international obligations, Pak‑EPA enforces federal environmental rules, and provincial agencies manage compliance at the local level.
Funding caveat
The plan states that implementation will depend on securing financial resources through national or international channels, and suggests developing project proposals to attract external support. According to the ministry, capacity‑building and training sessions have already been held for industry and enforcement agencies, particularly on persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
The GHS adoption plan forms part of Pakistan’s broader effort to finalise a national integrated chemical management and safety framework for 2026-2031, which remains under development.