REACH-CLP

REACH regulation 2006/1907/EC was adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry. It also promotes alternative methods for the hazard assessment of substances in order to reduce the number of tests on animals. REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It entered into force on 1 June 2007. Manufacturers and importers of substances in quantities of 1 tonne or more shall submit a registration to the European Chemical Agency.

The REACH Restriction process provides a mechanism for the protection of human health and the environment from unacceptable risks posed by chemicals. Through a restriction, it is possible to limit to impose any relevant condition, such as requiring technical measures or specific labels. A restriction may apply to any substance on its own, in a mixture or in an article, including those that or ban the manufacture, placing on the market (including imports) or use of a substance, as well as do not require registration. The process for restrictions is quite long and usually led by a Member State or the European Chemicals Agency on request of the European Commission.

The Commission is currently revising the REACH Regulation, in line with the Commission’s Better Regulation provisions. It will include a thorough assessment of possible impacts of potential changes to REACH on the protection of human health and the environment, the use of animal testing, the functioning of the internal market and the competitiveness and innovation of European industry and businesses

More information about REACH can be found on the ECHA website here and on the European Commission website here.

ECHA Substance Information Infocards providing access REACH and C&L data for HFCs, HFOs, HCFOs and for HCFCs used as feedstock can be found here.

Harmonised classification and labelling

The classification and labelling of certain hazardous chemicals is harmonised to ensure adequate risk management throughout the EU. Member States and manufacturers, importers or downstream users may propose a harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) of a substance. Only Member States can propose a revision of an existing harmonisation, and submit CLH proposals when a substance is an active substance in biocidal or plant protection products.

Further information about CLP can be found on the ECHA website here and on the European Commission website here.

C&L Inventory

The notification obligation under CLP requires manufacturers and importers to submit classification and labelling information for the substances they are placing on the market to the C&L Inventory held by ECHA. The inventory database is searchable by substance name, CAS or EC number.

See here

Poison centres

A new Annex VIII was added to the CLP Regulation in 2017, implementing harmonised information requirements for notifications under Article 45. This information is submitted to the appointed bodies in the Member State and is used for emergency health response (the Poison Centres).

Annex VIII defines a unique formula identifier (UFI), which will be required on the label of the mixture, creating an unambiguous link between a mixture placed on the market and the information made available to emergency health response.