Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of the 16th of December 2008, on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.
See the latest (10.5.202) consolidated version of the CLP Regulation in English here.
CLP stands for Classification, Labelling and Packaging
The CLP Regulation entered into force on January 2009, and it is based on the United Nations' Globally Harmonised System (GHS) which introduced a global effort for universal classification and labelling of chemicals. The purpose of this Regulation is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment as well as the free movement of substances, mixtures and articles by providing a worldwide harmonised classification and communication for hazardous chemicals.
The CLP Regulation has progressively replaced the Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) and the Dangerous Preparations Directive (1999/45/EC). Classification and labeling will change in a stepwise approach during a transitional period was finalised by 2015.
What is GHS?
GHS stands for the Globally Harmonised System of classification and labelling of chemicals. It provides a basis for uniform physical, environmental, health and safety information on hazardous chemicals at global level through the harmonisation of the classification criteria, labelling rules and guidance on the preparation of Safety Data Sheets. The GHS is developed and maintained at United Nations level with the aim of avoiding different hazard information requirements on physical, health and environmental hazards for the same chemicals around the world. In addition, it also aims to facilitate trade: by applying GHS across different countries it will no longer be necessary for an exported chemical to be reclassified and relabelled in order to comply with different classification criteria, labelling rules and Safety Data Sheet requirements.
Chemical products with old labels off the shelves
What changes with CLP?
- The classification criteria and the allocation of hazards,
- New label design (Hazard Pictograms replacing the danger symbols),
- Introduction of a signal word (Danger / Warning)
- New hazard and precautionary statements (former R&S phrases)
Current CLP Regulation | Former EC-Directives |
Mixture | Preparation |
Hazard Pictogram (GHS) | Danger Symbol |
Hazard statement, H | Risk phrase, R |
Precautionary statement, P | Safety phrase, S |
Hazard Pictograms, Hazard and Precautionary Statements
More information on the provisions of CLP Regulation can be found in the European Chemicals Agency webpage:
More information can be found in the guidance document Introduction to CLP or you may contact the Cyprus CLP HelpDesk.