CLP

Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, abbreviated to CLP, is binding in the European Economic Area (EEA) and applies to all industries.

CLP implements to the European law the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals – GHS, developed within the United Nations structure, and used by countries around the world.

The aim of this regulation is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment as well as the free movement of chemical substances, mixtures and articles, harmonising the criteria for classification of substances and mixtures, and the rules on labelling and packaging for hazardous substances and mixtures.

CLP introduces an obligation for manufacturers, importers and downstream users of hazardous substances and mixtures to classify, label and package such substances and mixtures before they are placed on the market.

Determining the classification of hazards posed by substances and mixtures in terms of their physico-chemical properties, hazards to health and to the environment involves comparing these properties identified based on the available information with the criteria published in the regulation.

A substance or mixture classified as hazardous and contained in packaging shall bear a label including the following elements:

name, address and telephone number of the supplier(s);
nominal quantity of the substance or mixture in the package made available to the general public;
product identifiers;
hazard pictograms;
hazard statements;
the appropriate precautionary statements;
supplemental information.

CLP regulation contains a list of substances with a EU harmonised classification and labelling binding in the EEA.

CLP regulation also introduces the following procedures:

- Harmonised classification and labelling

Member states, manufacturers, importers and downstream users may propose a harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) for a substance legally binding in the EEA. Only member states may propose a revision of a harmonised classification and labelling for substances which are active substances in biocidal products or plant protection products.

- Obligation to notify classification and elements of labelling (C&L Inventory)

Manufacturers and importers of substances must notify the information on the classification and labelling of substances placed by them on the market to the C&L Inventory kept by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

- Submitting information on mixtures

Obligation to submit the harmonised information on mixtures for emergency health response purposes (poison centres) in the EEA states and create Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) that unambiguously links the submitted information on the mixture placed on the market and the information made available for emergency health response purposes.

- Alternative chemical names in mixtures

Under this procedure, the supplier may submit a request to use an alternative chemical name of a substance in a mixture to protect confidential nature of their business. Every request to use an alternative chemical name approved by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) shall be binding in all EEA countries.

The currently binding and regularly updated text of the CLP regulation is available at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) website HERE

Detailed information on the Bureau for Chemical Substance’s engagement in various activities relating to the requirements of the CLP regulation is available HERE