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An update to Brazil’s Standard NBR 14725 which incorporates the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) criteria for Classification, safety data sheets (SDS) and Labelling of Chemicals adds the requirement for a local 24-hour telephone number to be supplied in section 1 of safety data sheets (SDS).
Companies have until 4th July 2025 to implement the change, as the revised Standard does not become effective until this date but we advise organisations begin taking steps to ensure that changes are implemented in time.
The news was announced on the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) website, where other major changes were publicised earlier this year, including the naming convention for Safety Data Sheet documents, which will be called Ficha de Dados de Seguranҫa or FDS, bringing Brazilian language consistent with the globally adopted acronym.
Under Section 1 of the SDS, a local phone number in case of emergency is mandatory to be available 24 hours a day, and under Section 9 particle characteristics which apply to solids are required to be included, such as size and shape. In Annex J the GHS comprehensibility testing methodology is important and must be included as those handling products must be able to easily understand the associated hazard. Other changes saw the inclusion of physical hazard classes for desensitised explosives, flammable gases and environmental hazard classification of ‘hazardous to the ozone layer’.
Labelling changes have also been added to regulations by Brazil for small packages (250ml or less), and gives the option to add a QR code for access to the chemical product information.
Where hazardous ingredients occur in mixtures there is the option to report only the identity of the most severe ingredient for specific hazard classes, including: acute toxicity, skin corrosion, serious eye damage, specific target organ toxicity - single exposure - category 3, and aspiration hazards.
Available to purchase through the ABNT website – an organization that provides voluntary technical standards for Brazilian companies – ABNT is the body approved to publish guidelines for classification, labelling and safety data sheet for chemical products according to GHS.
Organisations importing goods to Brazil
Ricardo currently have a local 24-hour number active for Brazil, and recommend that all organisations check to ensure the provision of the local Brazilian number is included in their current subscription.
Ricardo can also support your organisation to review and update your safety data sheets according to the changes, due to come into effect from July 4, 2025.
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