REACH Metals Gateway

Official Text

Since 1 June 2015, CLP is the only legislation in force in the EU for classification and labelling of substances and mixtures. It is legally binding across the Member States and directly applicable to all industrial sectors. It requires manufacturers, importers or downstream users of substances or mixtures to classify, label and package their hazardous chemicals appropriately before placing them on the EU market. The CLP text can be found here. 

Please note that SDS provisions are covered by REACH Annex II.

New hazard classes in 2023:  The European Commission has published a Delegated Regulation amending CLP Regulation, setting out new hazard classes and criteria for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures. These new hazard classes apply to all chemical substances and mixtures placed on the EU market under REACH. They also apply to active substances in biocidal products and plant protection products, which are normally prioritised for harmonised classification in the EU. The new hazard classes are:

  • ED HH in Category 1 and Category 2 (Endocrine disruption for human health)
  • ED ENV in Category 1 and Category 2 (Endocrine disruption for the environment)
  • PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic), vPvB (very persistent, very bioaccumulative)
  • PMT (persistent, mobile, toxic), vPvM (very persistent, very mobile)

The new rules entered into force on 20 April 2023. Member States can now make proposals for CLH with the new hazard classes and manufacturers, importers, downstream users and distributors can self-classify their substances and mixtures accordingly. Transitional periods have been foreseen during which manufacturers, importers, downstream users and distributors are not yet required to classify their substances or mixtures according to the new hazard classes. During these periods, the new hazard classes can be applied on a voluntary basis.

  •  For new substances on the market, companies need to comply with the new rules from 1 May 2025
  •  For substances already on the EU market, companies have until 1 November 2026 to comply
  •  For new mixtures, the new hazard classes apply from 1 May 2026 onwards
  •  For existing mixtures on the EU market, companies have until 1 May 2028 to comply with the new rules 

More information can be found here

Last page update: 30 October 2023