El Salvador Implements GHS for Chemical Classification and Labelling

The Government of El Salvador has officially adopted the sixth revised edition of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS 6), marking a significant step toward enhanced chemical safety and regulatory alignment with international standards.

"Decree No. 1, issued by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), was published on 29 January 2025 in El Salvador’s Diario Oficial, enacting the Reglas Técnicas para la Introducción, Distribución y Almacenamiento de Sustancias Conforme al Sistema Globalmente Armonizado de Clasificación y Etiquetado de Productos Químicos (Technical Rules for the Introduction, Distribution, and Storage of Substances in Accordance with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals)."

These technical rules establish the mandatory framework for classifying chemical substances and mixtures, as well as requirements for labelling and safety data sheets. The regulation will come into force one year after its publication, on 29 January 2026, improving the protection of public health and the environment, and facilitate trade of chemical products. This measure aligns El Salvador with global chemical safety practices as outlined by the United Nations' GHS framework.