Middle East Regulatory News

On 2 October 2024, the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft standard for the labelling of chemical substances. The second edition o...

On 2 October 2024, the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft standard for the labelling of chemical substances. The second edition of the draft standard, DJS 990:2024, is expected to be adopted on 30 December 2024. 

Previously, Jordan had not formally adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). However, this new standard mandates labelling in accordance with the provisions of the 8th revised edition of the UN GHS and the European CLP Regulation (EC 1272/2008). As a Middle Eastern country, this move marks a significant step towards Jordan’s full implementation of the GHS. 

Jordanian Technical Regulation 119/2022 

Earlier in 2022, the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) enacted Technical Regulation 119/2022, which outlines the specific requirements for labelling products that are sold or imported into Jordan.  

Scope of DJS 990:2024 

The DJS 990:2024 standard applies to all chemical substances and mixtures, excluding radioactive substances and mixtures, as well as veterinary medicinal products, food or feeding stuffs, cosmetic products, and medical devices. 

Insights from the New Labelling Standard 

As per the draft standard, DJS 990:2024, the label should be in both Arabic and English. The main elements that need to be included on the label are as listed below but more information can be found in standard here. 

• Country of origin and contents 

• Chemical identifier 

• Hazard and precautionary statements 

• Signal word 

• Hazard class and pictogram 

Label and Pictogram Dimensions 

The recommended dimensions for the label and pictogram, depending on the volume of the package are given in the table below. 

Comment Period and Enforcement Date 

The draft is currently open for comment. Stakeholders are invited to comment until 1 December 2024. The standard will come into force on 1 June 2025.  

On 21 May 2024, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a second draft standard, i.e. GSO/TC01 /DS2/ GSO2654:2023, aligned with the seventh revised edition of...

On 21 May 2024, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a second draft standard, i.e. GSO/TC01 /DS2/ GSO2654:2023, aligned with the seventh revised edition of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS 7). The draft was prepared by the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) Technical Committee No. GSO/TC01. This GSO draft aims to ensure the safe production, transport, handling, use and disposal of hazardous substances in line with GHS requirements. In addition to the GCC members United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Bahrain, State of Kuwait, Oman, State of Qatar and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Yemen has also notified this draft standard to the WTO.

Overview and Scope

GSO Standard GSO2654:2023 establishes comprehensive criteria for classifying substances and mixtures according to their health, environmental, and physical hazards. It also details elements of hazard communication, including requirements for Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and labelling.

The regulation applies to all substances and mixtures supplied, used or manufactured in GCC countries, with certain exceptions such as radioactive substances, non-isolated intermediates and products such as cosmetics, detergents and foodstuffs. The standard ensures that all chemical products, regardless of their manufacturing stage, comply with GHS requirements without any exemptions.

Previous GCC Draft Standard

On 6 November 2023, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the first draft standard GSO 2654:2023 for the implementation of GHS 7. This Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) standard is based on a previous draft published on 30 August 2018.

Insights from the Second Draft Standard

Compared to the first draft of the standard, the following new provisions have been added to the second draft:

• Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must be revised within 18 months if new information becomes available

• Specific provisions for human health and environmental safety have been added.

• New definitions have been added for:

3.21 Supplier

3.22 Hazardous materials

3.23 Mixture

3.24 Hazard

3.25 Risks

3.26 Accident

3.27 Near miss

3.28 Labels

3.29 Risk classification

Key Elements of the Draft Standard

1. Requirements for Safety Data Sheets (SDS):

   - Language and Format: SDSs must be clear, concise, and available in English and Arabic. They should follow a 16-section format covering identification, hazard identification, composition, first aid measures, fire-fighting measures, accidental release measures, handling and storage, exposure controls/personal protection, physical and chemical properties, stability and reactivity, toxicological information, environmental information, disposal considerations, transport information, regulatory information, and other relevant details.

   - Updates and Confidentiality: The SDS should be updated promptly with any new significant information affecting health and environmental protection. Confidential business information shall be made available to competent authorities on request without compromising safety details.

2. Labelling Requirements:

   - Content and Presentation: Labels must be bilingual (Arabic and English) and include product identifiers, supplier details, hazard pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, precautionary statements and additional information. Labels should be legible and of an appropriate size for easy reading.

   - Precedence and Exemptions: In the case of multiple hazards, precedence rules for symbols, signal words and statements must be followed to avoid redundancy. Small packages and certain product forms may have reduced labelling requirements under certain conditions.

3. Hazard Classification:

   - Substances and Mixtures: Classification is based on available data on physical, health and environmental hazards. Self-classification and harmonized classification are used, with specific rules for determining concentration limits and cut-off values for hazardous components.

   - Physical, Health, and Environmental Hazards: Detailed criteria and communication elements are provided for different hazard categories to ensure comprehensive coverage of potential risks.

4. Implementation and Compliance:

   - Training and Responsibilities: Suppliers must ensure that SDS authors are competent and well trained. Regular refresher training programs are mandatory to maintain compliance.

   - Regulatory Alignment: The draft aligns with international standards such as the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation and GHS, facilitating global trade and improving chemical safety management in the GCC region.

Target Audience

This standard is essential for consumers, workers, transport personnel, and emergency responders dealing with chemical products in the GCC countries. It provides a consistent approach to hazard communication and promotes safer handling and use of hazardous substances throughout the region.

Deadline for Comments

Interested stakeholders and parties are invited to submit comments by 20 July 2024. The date of adoption and entry into force are yet to be decided.

Future Developments

The GSO invites comments on this draft regulation, emphasizing its status as a working document subject to revision. Once approved, GSO2654:2023 will become a formal Gulf Technical Regulation and will significantly improve the management of hazardous materials in the GCC countries.

On November 6, 2023, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries notified a draft standard (GSO 2654:2023) for the implementation of the seventh revised edition of the Globally Harmonized Standard of...

On November 6, 2023, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries notified a draft standard (GSO 2654:2023) for the implementation of the seventh revised edition of the Globally Harmonized Standard of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS7) to the World Trade Organization. The notifying countries were the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Yemen i.e. the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The objective of GSO 2654:2023

The draft standard has been published by the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO). The GSO technical regulation (GSO 2654:2023) aims to ensure the safe production, transport, handling, use, and disposal of hazardous substances in line with GHS requirements, including classification of substances and hazard communication elements like safety data sheets and labels.

Content of the standard document

In accordance with the GHS regulations, the proposed Gulf technical rule aims to ensure the safe production, transportation, handling, use, and disposal of hazardous substances:

1) The standard for categorizing compounds and Mixtures according to their physical, chemical, and health risks; and

2) The components of hazard communication, such as the specifications for safety data sheets and labels.

Deadline and Implementation

The comments are accepted by WTO for the notification in the next 60 days (i.e. until January 5, 2024). The date of adoption is yet to be determined. The Standard will come into force 180 days after publication in the official gazette.

 In December 2022, a memorandum was signed between Saudi Arabia and Japan at the first ministerial meeting of the Saudi Japanese Ministerial Dialogue for Energy. . The memorandum was about cooperatio...

 In December 2022, a memorandum was signed between Saudi Arabia and Japan at the first ministerial meeting of the Saudi Japanese Ministerial Dialogue for Energy. . The memorandum was about cooperation in the energy sector, including carbon recycling technology and the use of hydrogen and ammonia as a clean fuel source, to achieve a carbon neutral society.

 According to the two memoranda of cooperation, the two nations will advance the use of hydrogen in transportation and encourage the study and advancement of fuel ammonia and hydrogen technologies as well as their application at the local, bilateral, regional, and global levels. The two nations will also look into the possibility of conducting a joint study or pilot project that quickens the adoption of low-carbon fuels like e-fuel, gaseous fuels, methane, fuels made from CO2, and methanol as well as technologies like direct air capture, carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), or carbon recycling.

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has disrupted energy supplies around the world, the two ministers also reaffirmed the importance of securing stable provisions by advancing dialogue between oil producers and importers.

Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura visited Saudi Arabia and Oman for discussions on the supply and stabilization of oil and liquefied natural gas and seeking cooperation in such new areas of hydrogen and ammonia.

On 8 August 2022, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) updated the permitted use of Methyl N-Methylanthranilate (MNM) in cosmetic products. In cosmetics, MNM acts as a fragrance. It is used in fin...

On 8 August 2022, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) updated the permitted use of Methyl N-Methylanthranilate (MNM) in cosmetic products. In cosmetics, MNM acts as a fragrance. It is used in fine fragrances, shampoos, soaps, and many other types of cosmetics. The update will come into effect from 1 July 2023.

Iearlier in EU, the permit to use MNM in cosmetic products was updated. Under Annex III of (EC) 1223/2009 the European Commission released Regulation (EU) 2022/135, restricting the use of methyl-N-methylanthranilate in cosmetic products. The regulation was released on 31 January 2022 and has been effective since 21 February 2022. 

According to SFDA Circular 24366 and EU regulation (EU) 2022/135-

On the basis of the latest evidence and studies the new MNM restrictions are updated.

Cosmetic products must comply with the update by manufacturers, warehouse managers and importers.

Saudi Arabia is the newest country to issue a Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulation, requiring relevant Saudi manufacturers and importers of electric and electronic equipment (EEEs) to...

Saudi Arabia is the newest country to issue a Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulation, requiring relevant Saudi manufacturers and importers of electric and electronic equipment (EEEs) to comply with this law from 5 January 2022. This regulation is published by the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization (SASO). Various products on the market were discovered to contain dangerous substances which show a serious danger to the safety of the consumer and the environment. This implementation was set to begin on 9 July 2021 and postponed to 4 July 2022, due to industries from countries like the US and China expressing their concerns over the short timeline, which can be again extended till March 31, 2023, to affect manufacturers of different types of appliances.

RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. RoHS, also known as Directive 2002/95/EC, originated in the European Union and restricts the use of specific hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products (known as EEE). All applicable products in the EU market after July 1, 2006, must pass RoHS compliance.

According to restrictions, the chemical restriction level is standardized of the following substances so, that every relevant product undergoes testing to make sure it does not go beyond chemical restriction levels.

Large-scale industrial stationary machinery, medical devices, military equipment, large-scale fixed installations, and aerospace equipment are exceptions to this regulation. Penalties, as well as the removal of a product from the market, is the step taken whenever a manufacturer fails to abide by the regulatory compliance.

Timeline updates to Compliance-

• Electrical household appliances:                4 July 2022
• Large electrical household appliances:     2 October 2022
• Telecommunication and IT equipment:   31 December 2022
• Lighting equipment:                                     31 March 2021

Manufacturers have to stay up-to-date on amendments and integration, as more equipment and appliances will be added in the future.

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) published the Technical Regulation for Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (SASO RoHS) in 2021 to ...

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) published the Technical Regulation for Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (SASO RoHS) in 2021 to take effect from July 4, 2022. The initial implementation date was January 5, 2022, which was later changed to July 4, when the implementation will now be done in stages.

Although several countries around the world raised concerns about SASO RoHS causing obstacles to trade, Saudi Arabia has set plans requiring conformity assessments under its regulation indicating that the assessments will help raise the quality level of their national industry and also enhance the safety of goods imported to the country. To this effect, the Saudi Arabian government published the assessment procedure guidelines and the documents required for submission by companies.

SASO RoHS is similar to the EU’s Directive on the restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).  However, unlike EU RoHS, it stipulates that both domestic manufacturers and importers need to obtain a certificate proving the conformity of their products with the regulation. The certificate must also be from an approved organisation. For suppliers to get certified, they have to provide a test report of the complete product. If not available or possible, they can provide a report for a minimum of three critical parts, which should be selected based on a risk assessment.

In the regulation, there are six categories of EEE that must meet their relevant requirements before they can enter and be placed in the Saudi market. The substances and their limits are:

The categories of EEE covered by the regulation have different enforcement dates that should be noted from now. For electrical home appliances (for small and large appliances), the enforcement date is July 4, 2022, and October 2, 2022, respectively. The regulation regarding Information and communication technology equipment will be enforced from December 31, 2022, and lighting equipment will be enforced from March 31, 2023. For electrical and electronic tools and equipment, enforcement of the regulation will start on June 29, 2023, and September 27, 2023, for games, entertainment devices, and sports equipment. Lastly, the directives for monitoring and control tools will be enforced from December 26, 2023.

Who will be affected?

The regulation, SASO RoHS, applies to manufacturers and importers of household appliances (both small and large), equipment for information communication technology and lighting, monitoring and control tools, and equipment for leisure, recreation, and sport.

Anyone who fails to comply is liable to fines, penalties, and the possibility of complete removal of such products from the market.

Who is exempted?

The exempted products are medical devices, military equipment, large-scale industrial stationary machinery, large-scale fixed installations, and aerospace equipment.