ECHA Publishes Guidance on Chemicals Classification, Labeling
August 28, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published introductory guidance on the so-called CLP regulation - Regulation No 1272/2008 on the classification, labeling and packaging (CLP) of chemical substances - together with guidance on the application of the CLP criteria.
ECHA manages compliance with the regulation for REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals - across the European Union (EU).
The new information, published on the ECHA web site, provide comprehensive guidance to companies having obligations to meet under the CLP regulation, which entered into force on Jan. 20, 2009.
The guidance documents were developed by the European Commission to support companies manufacturing or supplying chemicals, in particular small to medium-sized enterprises.
The new CLP legislation will progressively replace the former EU classification and labeling legislation.
The introductory guidance presents basic features of the CLP regulation, including information on the CLP notification deadline of Jan. 3, 2011. It also provides information in relation to the classification-based provisions of the REACH regulation.
The guidance on the application of the CLP criteria explains the general principles of classification and labeling; it also provides detailed guidance on how to classify and label substances and mixtures (physical, health and environmental hazards).
For more information, see Introductory Guidance on the CLP Regulation and on the Application of CLP Criteria.
Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).