Classification of dangerous chemical substances and preparation

The latest changes include:

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.

COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 618/2012 of 10 July 2012 amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures.

The new EU regulation on classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures, the so called CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008  entered into force on 20 January 2009. The regulation is directly applicable instrument of EU legislation, which started a period of gradual transition to a new system of classification and labeling of chemicals:

Transitional provisions

• Until 1 December 2010, substances shall be classified, labelled and packaged in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC.
• Until 1 June 2015, mixtures shall be classified, labelled and packaged in accordance with Directive 1999/45/EC.
• From 1 December 2010 until 1 June 2015, substances shall be classified in accordance with both Directive 67/548/EEC and this Regulation. They shall be labelled and packaged in accordance with this Regulation.
• Substances classified, labelled and packaged in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC and already placed on the market before 1 December 2010, are not required to be relabelled and repackaged in accordance with this Regulation until 1 December 2012.
• Mixtures classified, labelled and packaged in accordance with Directive 1999/45/EC and already placed on the market before 1 June 2015 are not required to be relabelled and repackaged in accordance with this Regulation until 1 June 2017.
• Until 1 December 2011 a Member State may maintain any existing and more stringent classification and labelling of substances entered into Part 3 of Annex VI to this Regulation

Entry into force

• Titles II, III and IV shall apply in respect of substances from 1 December 2010 and in respect of mixtures from 1 June 2015.

CLP Regulation was amended by Commission Regulation (EC) 790/2009 (.pdf – 8,42 Mb) amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures: updated text of Part 3 of Annex VI of the CLP in the 30th and 31 ATP to Directive 67/548

• COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2009/2/EC of 15 January 2009 amending, for the purpose of its adaptation to technical progress, for the 31st time, Council Directive 67/548/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances
• COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2008/58/EC of 21 August 2008 amending, for the purpose of its adaptation to technical progress, for the 30th time, Council Directive 67/548/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances.

Guidance on the CLP Regulation

CLP Regulation is based on Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and implements the provisions of the GHS in the EU legal system. Guidelines on Regulation CLP contain information on how to meet the obligations imposed by CLP.

Þ Introductory Guidance on the CLP Regulation 

The document provides guidance on basic principles and procedures set out in regulation CLP. It is intended primarily suppliers (for suppliers of substances and mixtures (preparations) and for those producers or importers of certain specific articles downstream users, distributors) who have basic knowledge of the current system of classification labeling and packaging.

Þ Guidance on the Application of the CLP Criteria

The objective of this document is to provide detailed guidance on the application of the CLP criteria for physical, health and environmental hazards.

This Guidance is developed to assist primarily manufacturers or importers applyingclassification and labelling criteria and it also includes practical examples. It is also assumed to be the guidance on classification and labelling for Competent Authorities in the Member States, Commission services and European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

European Chemical Agency (ECHA) has published on its website a document: Questions & Answers on Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures
Classification of dangerous chemical substances and preparation