Link: GHS Advanced Topics, A Comparison of Global GHS Label Size Requirements 2015
By: ChemSafetyPro

Many countries have set minimum GHS label size requirements for chemical packages with different packaging capacities. Some countries have even set additional requirements on GHS label pictogram size and even font size. In this article, we will give you a brief summary of global GHS label size requirements, including pictogram size requirement and font size requirement.

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General Principles

Before we move into each country or region’s GHS label and pictogram size requirements, there are a few general principles you need to be aware of:

• The minimum size of a GHS label shall be related to package sizes;
• The minimum size of a pictogram on a GHS label shall be related to the minimum size of the GHS label;
• The minimum size of a GHS pictogram on a GHS label is usually much smaller than a transport pictogram (100mm x 100mm);
• A GHS label must be legible and prominently displayed;

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Europe, Switzerland, Singapore & Malaysia

• Minimum GHS label size and pictogram size depend on package capacities;
• Malaysia: minimum font size is 7 points.

Capacity of the package (Litres)	Dimensions of the label (Min. mm × mm)	Dimensions of the pictogram (Min. mm × mm)
Capa. ≤ 3	If possible, 52 × 74	Not smaller than 10 × 10 If possible, 16 × 16
3＜ Capa. ≤ 50	74 × 105	23 × 23
50＜ Capa. ≤ 500	105 × 148	32 × 32
Capa. ＞ 500	148 × 210	46 × 46

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China

• Has only set requirements on GHS label size;

Capacity of the package (Litres)	Dimensions of the label (Min. mm × mm)
Capa. ≤ 0.1	Use simplified label
0.1 ＜ Capa. ≤ 3	50 × 75
3 ＜ Capa. ≤ 50	75 × 100
50 ＜ Capa. ≤ 500	100 × 150
500 ＜ Capa. ≤ 1000	150 × 200
Capa. ＞ 1000	200 × 300

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Korea

• Has set requirements on GHS label size and GHS pictogram size;

Capacity of the package (Litres)	Dimensions of the label (Min. cm2)	Dimensions of the pictogram (Min. cm2)
Capa. ≤ 5	5% of area	1/40 of surface area; 0.5cm2
5 ＜ Capa. ≤ 50	90
50 ＜ Capa. ≤ 200	180
200 ＜ Capa. ≤ 500	300
Capa. ≥ 500	450

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Australia

• Has set requirements on GHS pictogram size and text size;

Capacity of the package (Litres)	Dimensions of the label (Min. mm × mm)	Dimensions of the pictogram (Min. mm × mm)
Capa. ≤ 0.5	2.5	15 × 15
0.5 ＜ Capa. ≤ 5	3	20 × 30
5 ＜ Capa. ≤ 25	5	50 × 50
Capa. ≥ 25	7	100 × 100

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USA, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand & Philippine

• No specific size requirements on GHS labels, pictograms and fonts;
• General principles shall be followed;

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Conclusion of the Comparison of Global GHS Label Size Requirements

• Unfortunately, GHS label size requirements are not harmonized;
• Not all countries have set requirements on GHS label size or GHS pictogram size;
• Malaysia and Australia have set font size requirements.

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You may also like to learn about Hazard Communication Standard 2015 by OSHA’s Revised