REACH Classification & Labelling

There is already EU chemicals legislation in place which requires industry to classify and label dangerous substances and preparations (Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC). At present REACH refers to this system, until it is fully replaced by a new Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) which will introduce criteria of the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) into the EU. This will be brought into place on the 1st December 2010.

In order to ensure classification and labelling is transparent throughout the EU, industry must submit a notification of the hazard classification to ECHA by 1st December 2010, unless already submitted as part of the registration process. From this ECHA will create an online classification and labelling inventory database. Registrants should make every effort to harmonise the classification with other registrants of the substance once the inventory is made available.