Chemicals and Hazard > Classification and Labelling of Substances

The main purpose of classification and labelling of substances and preparations is hazard communication. Along with provision of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), correct classification and labelling ensures that individuals handling chemicals at all stages of the supply chain, including consumers, are properly informed of any potential dangers to human health or the environment, including hazardous physico-chemical properties such as flammability or explosivity.

Under current EU legislation, the classification and labelling of dangerous substances is covered by the Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC). The physicochemical, toxicological and environmental properties of a substance are determined using standard tests, usually those outlined in Annex V of the directive. The results of these tests are used with the Annex VI 'Labelling Guide' to determine the appropriate classification, while Annexes II, III and IV set out the symbols, pictograms, risk and safety phrases that will be used in MSDSs and on packaging. Once the classification and labelling of a substance has been agreed at EU level, it is added to Annex I of the directive and it is obligatory for suppliers to label their products accordingly. For 'preparations' i.e. mixtures of substances placed on the market, testing may be carried out and the process described above followed to decide the appropriate classification and labelling. More often, however, testing has been carried out on individual components; therefore the Dangerous Preparations Directive (1999/45/EC) is used, which sets out methods for determining classification of the preparation on the basis of properties of the individual components.

A report by Chemical Legislation European Enforcement Network suggested that a significant proportion of preparations are incorrectly classified, and that many safety data sheets are deficient in some respect. Click here to view.

Different regulations apply for some classes of substances and preparations such as cosmetics and medicines. In the UK, the legislation concerning classification and labelling of substances and preparations is implemented into national law under the CHIP regulations.

REACH

From 2008 it will be the responsibility of the ECHA's Risk Assessment Committee to prepare opinions on classification and labelling. REACH does not change the rules for classification and labelling, but refers to and builds on them.

Future: GHS

Outside the EU, other national classification and labelling schemes exist, and separate regulations also govern the transport sector. A Globally Harmonised System (GHS) has been developed; the second edition was published in July 2007. It is hoped that the system will have been adopted worldwide and be fully operational by 2008. GHS will be implemented in the EU under a new Regulation.

Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC will be replaced by a new Regulation which will incorporate the classification criteria and labelling rules agreed at UN level, the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). When adopted, the Regulation will take over some provisions of REACH:

More information is available from http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/ghs/index_en.htm.

The proposed EC Regulation on implementation of GHS was published in June 2007 and is currently in a period of public consultation, due to end in November 2007. Detailed negotiations on the proposal by EU Member States are expected to begin in Autumn 2007. The labelling provisions take on board the red-framed hazard pictograms, signal words, hazard and precautionary statements provided for in the UN GHS, for example:

current symbol	new symbol
F+ Extremely Flammable	Danger Extremely flammable (liquid and vapour)

It is hoped that the proposed Regulation on implementation of GHS (Regulation on the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures COM(2007) 355) will be law by the end of 2008. As a Regulation, it will become law in member states automatically. Only enforcement legislation will be required in the UK.

More information on the consultation process can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/ghs/index.htm.

GHS information can be found at
http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_welcome_e.html.

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