CLP Regulation: the clock is ticking

Manufacturers and importers of chemical products have less than one year to implement the requirements of the new CLP Regulation.The transition period for implementing the new classification and labelling of chemical products will expire on 1 June 2015. The new rules will also impact significantly on the information provided in safety data sheets and on labels.

"Companies should not underestimate the costs and efforts involved in the transition from the previous Dangerous Preparations EU Directive to the new CLP Regulation", says Rupert Scherer from the Environmental Technology Business Unit at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH. In most cases, a product's existing classification under the EU's Dangerous Preparations Directive cannot simply be turned into a CLP classification, as classification under the new Regulation is based on other methods. Given this, product classifications must be re-evaluated according to CLP rules and complemented by additional laboratory analyses where necessary.

The results of the classification also have significant impacts on the safety data sheets and labels of hazardous substances most of which will have to be revised. As CLP methods have changed, TÜV SÜD's experts assume that without changes in formulations a larger number of chemical products will be considered "corrosive” and "acutely toxic“.

"The full process of transition to the new CLP regulation – from correct classification of the substances to the updating of the safety sheets and labels of hazardous substances – is very time-consuming", explains Rupert Scherer. "Companies should start tackling the transition process without delay as they may otherwise run out of time." TÜV SÜD's chemicals experts support manufacturers and importers with product classification in accordance with the new CLP regulation and the creation of safety data sheets and labels for hazardous substances, as well as all other issues related to the European chemicals law – from CLP to REACH.