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Classifying, labelling and packaging substances and mixtures

Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and the Council, of 16 December 2008 on classifying, labelling and packaging substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in December 2008, after approximately an 18 month approval process.

The purpose of the CLP Regulation is to ensure a high level of human health and environmental protection and the free movement of chemical substances, mixtures and some specific objects. This can be attained by:

• Creating a uniform system of classifying substances and mixtures and rules for labelling and packaging hazardous substances and mixtures,
• Creating an obligation on manufacturers, importers and subsequent users to classify substances and mixtures that are placed on the market, obligating suppliers to label and package substances and mixtures placed on the market and requiring manufacturers, manufacturers of goods and importers to classify substances that are not placed on the market and are subject to registration or notification pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation),
• Imposing an obligation on manufacturers and importers to notify the European Chemicals Agency about classifications and labelling substances that were not submitted during registration pursuant to the REACH Regulation,
• Specifying a list of substances with their harmonized classifications and labelling elements at the Community level,
• Specifying a list of classifications and labelling of substances.

CLP Regulation

• Based on experience with Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EEC,
• Contains criteria for classifying and labelling substances and mixtures that were established by the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) and were adopted at the international level by the UNO,
• Ensures compliance with legislation regulating the transportation of hazardous goods (ADR),
• Includes Annex I of Directive 67/548/EEC that lists the harmonized classification and labelling of substances,
• Defines a transition period during which society shall meet the requirements of the new regulations,

The deadline for classifying, labelling and packaging substances pursuant to the CLP Regulation is 1 December 2010; for classifying, labelling and packaging mixtures, it is 1 June 2015. Council Directive 67/548/EEC on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances and Directive 1999/45/EC concerning the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States related to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances will be cancelled as of 1 June 2015.

The CLP Regulation came into force on 20 January 2009.

Legislation