Council adopts Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging (CLP)

Council adopts Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging (CLP)

On October 14th of this year, the European Council adopted a regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical (CLP), marking the final step in the decision making process. The CLP regulation updates the existing 2008 EU legislation (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008) while clarifying the rules on labelling chemical substances and adapting them to different forms of trade (such as online trade or bulk sales at refill stations). The regulation also promotes the circularity of chemical products, makes labelling (including digital labelling) clearer and easier to read, and ensures a higher level of protection against chemical hazards. 

This update is necessary in taking into account new hazards and the protections that should be put in place. It was found that the 2008 CLP regulation was not fit for purpose, failing to address the emergence of newer hazards (endocrine disruptors, long lasting effects of substances) and new trends in sales (online shopping, bulk purchasing, digital labelling). The newly adopted revision of the CLP Regulation facilitates the reporting on new hazards related to chemicals that are placed on the market and gives the European Commission (EC) and the other stakeholders new powers to classify harmful substances and accelerate their identification. It also codifies the requirements for a voluntary digital labelling. Finally, the new regulation introduces specific rules at the refill stations for chemical products. 

The regulation will apply to all solid-state chemicals, although there will be a five-year derogation for substances with more than one constituent (MOCS) of botanical origin which have not been chemically modified. Once that period expires, the EC can propose new legislation based on latest scientific knowledge. 

Following the Council’s approval on October 14th, the legislative act has been adopted. After the signing of the act by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council, the new CLP Regulation will be published in the Official Journal (OJ) of the European Union and will enter into force 20 days later. 

If you need support with CLP classification of substances/mixtures, please contact the regulatory team at Kerona Scientific at info@kerona.ie or call the office at +353 1 8495284