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Acknowledgment selected logos: Sources: European Chemicals Agency
WHAT ARE REACH AND CLP?
Summary
Both pieces of legislation are Regulations which means that they apply directly in each EU Member State without “translation” into national legislation. They are increasingly mentioned together because certain aspects of chemical regulation are set out in REACH whereas others arise from CLP! For example, to allow manufacturing and importing of chemicals their registration is under REACH, their classification and labelling under CLP, but the Safety Data Sheets under REACH.
The criteria for classification are set out in CLP, and the application to a substance is set out in REACH.
Hazard communication requires instruments or tools. Labelling rules are set out in CLP and Safety Data Sheet rules are set out in REACH. A CLP Label and REACH SDS always operate in tandem.
Below is more information in blocks: one on REACH and one on CLP which contain follow up links.
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. In full it is Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. REACH entered into force on 1 June 2007.
The main elements of REACH are:
· Registration by industry of manufactured / imported chemical substances > 1 tonne/year
(staggered dead-
· Increased information and communication throughout the supply chain;
· Evaluation of some registered substances (Agency and Member States );
· Authorisation only for use of substances of very high concern;
· Restrictions: “Safety net” (Community wide action)
· Chemicals refers to substances on their own or in mixtures.
CLP stands for Classification, Labelling and Packaging. In full its is Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures. CLP introduces the United Nations globally harmonized system (UN GHS) for classification and labelling of chemicals into Europe. CLP entered into force on 20th January 2009.
In general CLP is concerned with the hazards (not risk) of chemical substances and mixtures. It also deals with how others will be informed about those hazards. Essentially it is the task of industry to establish what are the hazards of substances and mixtures before these are placed on the market, and to classify them in line with the identified hazards. In case a substance or a mixture is hazardous, it has to be labeled so that workers and consumers know about its effects before they handle it.
The main elements of CLP are:
· Classification
· C&L notification
· Labelling and Packaging
· Safety Data Sheets (as far as the communication is concerned – SDSs are regulated in REACH)
It means therefore a change from the old Directives on substances (DSD) and preparations (DPD) to a single system for substances and mixtures (the new name for preparations). You will see changes – spot the difference
From the old system, for example:
To the new system, for example:
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