NEW CLP Regulations

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NEW EU CLP REGULATIONS

(Classification Labelling and Packaging Regulations)

From 1st June 2015, new legislation has been adopted within the EU that makes fundamental changes to the way that we classify the chemical products that we supply and to labelling & packaging legislation designed to promote the safe supply and use of chemical mixtures within the EU. This is part of a worldwide integration onto the system known as the “Globally Harmonised System”.

Please do not be alarmed, there is no change to the composition of any chemicals only to the way in which they are labelled. The changes to the labelling reflect the new regulations, not the safety of the products.

The key changes are as follows:

  • New chemical WARNING SYMBOLS.
  • Each warning symbol now represents a category of risk.
  • New SIGNAL words (Danger/Warning) will be used on products classified as hazardous, to raise awareness to the risk level or type.
  • Label “risk” and “safety phrases” have been reviewed and improved in clarity. These are now called HAZARD STATEMENTS and PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS.

The new legislation is designed to raise awareness to the risks of handling chemicals.

  • The risk of hazard to people’s eyes and skin sensitisation has been highlighted and the chemical thresholds, to trigger Hazard Warning Symbols in the classification procedure, have been lowered for chemicals that could potentially cause adverse effects.

This means that more products will have a Hazard Warning Symbol.

Many products will increase in hazard perception and many end-users will see Corrosion Symbols appear on many regular-use products, due to the new level that triggers the eye damage warning.

  • SAFETY DATA SHEETS will all change in line with the new legislation.
  • The RISK ASSESSMENTS will need to be re-done, as many products have newly identified hazards under the new rules for classification.

The new legislation now makes Risk Assessments task-based (i.e. a separate assessment for each product, its particular method of use and particular area of use).

  • As warning symbols represent a group of hazards, users need to read labels to identify the exact nature of the hazard.

Newly labelled products will start to be delivered from now as we receive them from our suppliers.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require more information on CLP and how this might affect your cleaning operation.