Introductory Guidance on the CLP Regulation - ECHA - Europa

Basic guidance to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures
4. Transition to CLP
Getting started
1. Introduction
2. Roles and
obligations under
CLP
3. Preparing for CLP
4. Transition to
CLP
5. Similarities and
differences to DSD /
DPD
6. DSD / DPD and
CLP – key terms
compared
Hazard
classification
Hazard
communication
Follow-up to
classification
REACH and EU
downstream
legislation
Introduction
The CLP Regulation entered into force on 20 January 2009. However, not all the
provisions of the CLP Regulation will be obligatory immediately: There are the
transitional provisions set out in CLP Article 61 which define two target dates that
affect the classification, hazard communication and packaging of hazardous
substances and mixtures, namely 1 December 2010 and 1 June 2015.
The applicability of the new rules by the three dates mentioned above is described
below; the relationship of these three dates to the REACH deadlines is illustrated in
Figure 4.1.
1) CLP came into force on 20 January 2009
From 20 January 2009 the following rules apply:
• until 1 December 2010, substances must continue to be classified, labelled and
packaged in accordance with DSD. However, a substance may also be classified,
labelled and packaged according to CLP before this date. When this is done, the
labelling and packaging provisions of DSD shall no longer apply to the substance.
This means that labelling and packaging must respect the provisions of CLP;
• until 1 June 2015, mixtures must continue to be classified, labelled and packaged
in accordance with DPD. However, a mixture may also be classified, labelled and
packaged according to CLP before this date. When this is done, the labelling and
packaging provisions of DPD shall no longer apply to the mixture. This means
that labelling and packaging must respect the provisions of CLP;
• until 1 June 2015, the classification of a substance according to DSD must be
provided in the Safety Data Sheet. This will both apply to Safety Data Sheets for
substances on their own and to Safety Data Sheets for mixtures containing these
substances;
• until 1 December 2010, if a substance is classified, labelled and packaged
according to CLP, the CLP classification must appear on the Safety Data Sheet,
alongside the classification based on the DSD. However, a supplier may choose
to identify the CLP classification of a substance in advance of applying CLP to it in
full. Where this happens, the supplier may include this information on the
accompanying Safety Data Sheet, under the ‘other information’ heading;
• until 1 June 2015, the classification of a mixture according to DPD must be
provided in the Safety Data Sheet;
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