Brazil Enforces New GHS Standards

Updated Chemical Labeling and SDS Rules Aligned with UN GHS Rev. 7

Brazil will officially enforce the updated GHS standard ABNT NBR 14725:2023 beginning 4 July 2025, aligning national chemical classification, labeling, and safety data sheet (SDS) requirements with the 7th Revised Edition of the UN Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

The revised regulation—originally published on 3 July 2023—consolidates previous GHS rules and introduces major updates for companies operating in the Brazilian chemical market.

What’s New in the 2023 GHS Standard

• Single Unified Standard: Merges Brazil’s earlier four-part GHS framework into one cohesive document.
• New Hazard Classes:

o Desensitized Explosives
o Hazardous to the Ozone Layer

• Updated Classifications:

o Restructured flammable gas categories (1A/1B)
o Refined criteria for acute toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and environmental hazards

Labeling Changes: Key Requirements

• New Terminology: "FISPQ" is replaced by "FDS" (Ficha de Dados de Segurança – Brazil’s SDS).
• Portuguese Language: All labels must be in Brazilian Portuguese.
• Mandatory Label Elements:

o Product identifier and supplier details
o Signal words and GHS pictograms
o Updated hazard (H) and precautionary (P) statements, including new entries like H206 and P112

• For Non-Hazardous Products: Labels must include either:

o “No hazard classification according to ABNT NBR 14725” or
o “No hazard classification according to UN GHS”

• Small Packaging (≤ 250 ml): Fold-out or tag-style labels are acceptable.

SDS (FDS) Updates and Disclosure Rules

• Renaming: SDS documents are now referred to as FDS.
• Language Requirement: Must be written entirely in Brazilian Portuguese.
• Critical SDS Updates:

o Section 1: Include a 24/7 emergency contact located in Brazil
o Section 3: Disclose CAS numbers and concentrations of all hazardous ingredients
o Section 9: Include particle size distribution for solids and mixtures
o Additional Disclosure: All ingredients with any health or environmental hazard must be listed, even if not on the label

Compliance Checklist for Companies

To meet the 4 July 2025 deadline, companies must:

✅ Review and update all SDS and labels according to ABNT NBR 14725:2023
✅ Translate all documentation into Brazilian Portuguese
✅ Validate chemical classifications under GHS Rev. 7
✅ Provide a 24-hour emergency contact based in Brazil

Why This Update Matters

• Regulatory Compliance: Avoid legal risks and market entry delays
• Market Access: Maintain product eligibility in the Brazilian chemical market
• Global Alignment: Syncs Brazil with international hazard communication standards

Brazil’s adoption of the new GHS framework is a major regulatory milestone. Companies exporting chemicals or chemical-containing products to Brazil should act immediately to ensure full compliance and maintain smooth operations in one of Latin America’s largest markets.