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The purpose of the report is to serve as a technical resource describing the hazard classification of copper metal according to the 7th Revised Edition of the GHS guidelines (UN, 2017). It is intended to help guide regulators and industry groups by providing endpoint-specific hazard classifications that are based on the best available science, along with justifications that outline the classification decision-making process. The report is intended to be consistent with the 7th Revised Edition of the GHS guidance and will be updated as appropriate as new data become available

The hazard classifications provided within the report are not specific to any one jurisdiction, but rather reflect globally compliant classifications according to the GHS, 7th Revised Edition (UN, 2017). Thus, they do not override any jurisdiction-specific harmonized or other legally binding hazard classifications (e.g., the European Union’s Harmonized Classification, Labelling, and Packaging classifications for coated copper flakes).

The three forms of copper metal covered in the report are copper massive, copper powder, and copper flakes coated with aliphatic acid (hereafter, “coated copper flakes”).  The report outlines physical hazard classifications that are applicable to all three forms of copper metal and presents classifications for human health and environmental hazards for each of the three forms.