Q&A info

A substance may be classified under CLP, even though it was not under the DSD. For a range of hazards, the classification criteria have changed, e.g. for many physical hazards where the test methods which determine the classification criteria are often different from those of the DSD. For other hazards, the applicable concentration limits for taking into account the classification of its constituents, additives and impurities contained in the substance have changed, e.g. for the irritation and corrosive hazards. This means that where there is no reliable test information on the substance as a whole and the bridging principles cannot be applied, use of the calculation rules using concentration limits may lead to a classification under CLP, even though the same substance was not classified under DSD.

No, this is not necessary. A supplier will only have to classify the substance in the form that is going to be placed on the market and in which it can reasonably be expected to be used.As the particle size may have a significant effect on the test result, it should be explicitly specified in the test report for the relevant hazard what the particle size is. This does not mean that several classifications have to be performed in order to cover different particle sizes of the same substance. It means that the classification based on the particle size that is placed on the market has to be provided. In cases where several particle sizes are placed on the market or where the particle size may be altered during transport or storage, a worst-case approach should be used. This would normally imply using the classification based on testing the smallest particle size that could occur.

If particle size is relevant for classification and safe handling and use, this should be mentioned in the Safety Data Sheet. Information on deviating classifications due to different particle sizes should be mentioned in the Safety Data Sheet as well.

Yes, you do. As stated in section 1.1.1.4 of Annex VI to the CLP Regulation, impurities are not normally mentioned in Annex VI to CLP entries unless they contribute significantly to the classification of the substance. This means that the entry in Annex VI to CLP relates normally to the toxicity of the "pure" substance and impurities have not been taken into account. Therefore, if the substance placed on the market contains an impurity not specified in the corresponding entry in Annex VI to CLP, the presence of classified impurities must be taken into account for classification purposes in accordance with Article 11(1) CLP. 

The Commission Regulation (EC) No 286/2011 (second ATP to CLP) entered into force on 19 April 2011. In accordance with Article 3 of this ATP, Note H is no longer applied to entries marked with the Note from 1 December 2012.

A new or revised harmonised C&L of a substance set out in Annex VI to CLP must be applied from the date specified in the respective ATP, although suppliers may use this classification before that date.

In cases where a supplier decides not to apply the harmonised C&L of a substance before this date, the question arises whether they should nevertheless take into consideration the opinion adopted by the ECHA Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) on the harmonised C&L for that substance in the self-classification of a substance or mixture.

When suppliers consider the self-classification of their substance or mixture before placing them on the market (Article 4(1) of CLP), they must identify and examine all available information (Article 5 of CLP). The classification must reflect the latest scientific knowledge (Articles 5(1)(d) and 15 of CLP). During the transitional period for compliance with a new harmonised C&L for a substance, the RAC opinion for that substance should be considered as the latest reliable scientific evidence that should be reflected in the self-classification of the substance or mixture, unless the supplier has other scientific evidence that differs from the RAC opinion and leads to a different conclusion.

If the C&L of a substance is already harmonised in the same hazard class, compliance with the existing harmonised C&L is legally required until it is formally changed in an ATP to CLP. The new harmonised C&L may be voluntarily applied as soon as the respective ATP enters into force. At the date of applicability, as provided for in the respective ATP, the suppliers are obliged to comply with the new C&L.

Yes, the classification and labelling (C&L) of biocidal products needs to be updated in line with the change in harmonised classification within the timelines specified below. If the C&L of a substance in the product is already harmonised, compliance with the existing harmonised C&L is legally required. The new harmonised C&L may be voluntarily applied as soon as the respective ATP enters into force. At the date of applicability as provided for in the respective ATP, the suppliers are obliged to comply with the new C&L.

Further to this, Article 30(3) of CLP states that the label of a biocidal product should be updated in line with the requirements of the biocidal products legislation. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 354/2013 on changes of biocidal products gives the authorisation holder 12 months after implementation of the change to notify the updated hazard and precautionary statements to all the Member States in which the product is authorised or, where relevant, ECHA (see Annex, Title 1, Section 2).

It is assumed that pH has been taken into account when setting an SCL for a substance for skin corrosion/skin irritation or eye damage/eye irritation.

When a mixture only contains one corrosive or irritant ingredient (acid or base) with an SCL, the mixture should be classified according to this SCL even if the pH of the mixture is extreme. However, the SCL reflects a situation where the mixture does not contain any other ingredient that might affect the classification for that endpoint. If other ingredients in the mixture affect the irritant/corrosive properties, this has to be taken into account.

If a mixture contains any other substances than the one with an SCL, which may affect the corrosive or irritant properties of the mixture, the SCL may not determine the classification of the mixture. Such ingredients can be surfactants, other acids or bases, which either themselves possess corrosive or irritant properties or may be expected to affect the corrosive or irritant properties of the substance with the SCL, for example, by increasing the permeability of the skin. In that case, the classification should be based on the pH value of the mixture, unless consideration of the acid/alkali reserve suggests that the mixture may not be corrosive, and data from in vitro tests confirm that classification as corrosive is not justified. Classification based on the pH value of the mixture may lead to a more severe classification than if based on the SCL. A more severe classification may also result when either the additivity rule (Tables 3.2.3 or 3.3.3 of Annex I to CLP) or non-additivity rule (Tables 3.2.4 or 3.3.4 of Annex I to CLP) applies.

No, the bridging principle "Review of classification where the composition of a mixture has changed" can only be used for mixtures containing the same constituents (ingredients). It is only the concentrations of the hazardous constituents (ingredients) and not the constituents themselves that are permitted to change, within the ranges specified in Table 1.2 in Part 1 of Annex I which applies Article 15(2)(a).

Where the aspiration toxicity of a mixture is based on its components, two conditions need to be met.

Firstly, a mixture must contain a total of 10 % or more of a substance or substances classified in Aspiration Toxicity Category 1.
Secondly, the kinematic viscosity of the mixture must be at or below 20.5 mm2/s, measured at 40°C (point 3.10.3.3.1.1 of Annex I to CLP).

When these conditions are both met, the mixture must be classified in Aspiration Toxicity Category 1.

Regardless of the classification principle applied, mixtures in aerosol dispensers should be classified for health and environmental effects as follows, depending on the case.

If the added propellant or other gas:

1) is not released upon spraying, it should not be taken into account for the classification of the mixture in the aerosol dispenser

2) is partially or fully released upon spraying, but is separated from the other constituents of the mixture, it should also not be taken into account for the classification of the mixture in the aerosol dispenser from which it is separated. Where the propellant or other gas is partially or fully released, the propellant or other gas is generally assumed to be separated from the other constituents of the mixture if the propellant or other gas either is not liquefied or it is liquefied and has a vapour pressure (20°C) ≥ 10 kPa.

3) is partially or fully released upon spraying and is not separated from the other constituents of the mixture, it should be taken into account for the classification of the mixture in the aerosol dispenser. This third case applies by default if the propellant is a liquid and has a vapour pressure (20°C) below 10kPa, since it can then be generally assumed that the propellant or other gas does not separate from the other constituents of the mixture.

If it can be duly justified either that no separation takes place, or that classification of the entire contents of the aerosol dispenser as placed on the market is more ‘relevant’ within the meaning of Article 6(1) of the CLP Regulation for some other reason, then the third case can be applied.

For cases one and two above, if the propellant or other gas itself is classified as hazardous for health or the environment, that classification should be reflected in the label of the aerosol dispenser.

No. Soluble chromium VI causes the sensitising effect of cement or cement-containing mixtures. Chromium (VI) compounds generally are classified as Skin sens 1, and therefore the classification limit for mixtures containing these substances is 1 %. When the concentration of chromium (VI) is reduced to below 2 ppm (0,0002 %) of soluble chromium (VI) of the total dry weight of the cement, the concentration limit for classification as sensitising is unlikely to be reached and thus the hazard statement H317 would not apply.

It should be noted that the cement mixture containing below 0,0002 % soluble chromium (VI) of the total dry weight of the cement would also not be subject to the labelling requirement set in point 2.3 of Part 2 of Annex II, regarding the statement EUH203. 

Please note, however, that if reducing agents are used then the packaging must include the information on the packaging date, the storage conditions and the storage period appropriate to maintaining the activity of the reducing agent and to keeping the content of soluble chromium VI below 0,0002 %.