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The East African Community (EAC) comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda has officially adopted six new East African Standards (DEAS) covering various skincare, hair dye, and mosquito repellent products. According to notifications circulated by the WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade on 29 July 2025, these measures were endorsed by the EAC Council of Ministers on 2 July 2025. The updated standards aim to harmonize product specifications across the region, and strengthen consumer safety, quality assurance, and market consistency.

Summary of Newly Adopted Standards:

Implications for Stakeholders :

Manufacturers and Importers: Must align product formulations, labelling, and safety testing with the new standards before placing products on the market in EAC countries.

Regulators: Will have a unified reference point for market surveillance and enforcement, helping minimize cross-border compliance issues.

Consumers: Benefit from clearer labelling requirements, improved safety safeguards and more consistent product performance.

These measures contribute to ongoing EAC efforts to strengthen regulatory harmonization in support of regional trade, as reflected in the WTO notification.

On 1 July 2025, the transition period for the introduction of the tenth revised edition of the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS 10) was completed.  The South African Department of Employment and Labour previously released Draft Regulation No. 50431, which introduces revised guidelines for limiting exposure to hazardous chemical agents (HCAs).  A key element of the draft is the adoption of GHS 10, which is scheduled to take effect from 1 July 2025.  Comments from stakeholders were due on 5 July 2024. 

Key Updates include: 

• Adoption of GHS 10 by 1 July 2025, with phase-in schedules for future revisions: 

• GHS 11: by July 2027 

• GHS 12: by July 2029 

• Stricter labelling rules, including pictogram sizes and clearer disclosure of ingredients, especially for carcinogens and Specific Target Organ Toxicity STOT hazards. 

• Mandatory SDSs for mixtures, even if not classified for acute toxicity. 

• Revised Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) with updated calculation methodologies. 

• Enhanced safety protocols for particulates, confined spaces, and personal protective equipment. 

• Comprehensive medical and biological monitoring, respecting ethical standards such as informed consent. 

• Employer obligations to engage health and safety committees in all HCA-related matters. 

For more details, please refer to our previous news update published on GPC gateway.