by Jennifer HaggertyInitial steps have been taken towards developing a global list of classified chemicals using the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).With the GHS, the United Nations (UN) established a system aimed at harmonizing hazard classification criteria around the world. The GHS provides a framework for classifying hazardous chemicals, but the Competent Authority of each adopting country can make specific decisions about what is enforced in their implementing regulations. Along with their regulations implementing GHS, a number of countries also opted to develop lists of chemicals with published GHS classifications. Some countries or regions (such as the EU and Korea) have made these published classifications mandatory. Others (such as Japan and Thailand) have issued such lists of chemical classifications for reference purposes only. Different decisions made by Competent Authorities have led to chemical classification not being truly harmonized worldwide.To help address this lack of harmonization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS) came together to run a pilot project on potentially developing a global list of classified chemicals. The objectives of the pilot project were to define a process for evaluating chemicals and to address the feasibility of determining non-binding agreement on classification and labeling for the pilot substances. Three substances were chosen for the project: Dimethyltin dichloride (CAS No. 753-73-1), Dicyclopentadiene (CAS No. 77-73-6), and Di-n-butyl phthalate (CAS No. 84-74-2). A participating country took the lead in the classification process for each chemical; this was performed by the European Chemicals Agency, Russia and the United States, respectively. The results of the non-binding classification agreement are given below, along with information on how various countries have classified the same substances.