EU Amends CLP Regulation on Substances and Mixtures

SAFEGUARDS | Consumer Products NO. 136/16

The EU has recently published an adaptation of technical and scientific progress to the CLP Regulation. The new law for substances in Table 3.1, where classification and labelling are stipulated in the CLP Regulation, will take effect on March 1, 2018.

In January 2016, we [1] informed you that the World Trade Organization circulated a proposal from the European Union (EU) to amend Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 on the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP Regulation).

On July 20, 2016, Regulation (EU) 2016/1179 [2] was published in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU). This is the 9th adaptation to technical and scientific progress (ATP-9) to the CLP regulation and contains important changes to Table 3.1 of Part 3 of Annex VI to the CLP Regulation. These include:

• Deleting Tinurin 123 (EC number 406-750-9 and Index number 607-331-00-5) and Direct Blue FC 57087 (EC number 418-870-9 and Index number 609-066-00-0).
• Updating the classification and labelling requirements for 22 existing entries, including those for bisphenol A (BPA, EC number 201-245-8) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP, EC number 201-553-2).
• Creating 26 new entries, including those for lead powder and dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP).

It is interesting to note that BPA has been reclassified from Repr. 2 to Repr. 1B and the specific concentration limits for DIBP have been deleted.

ATP-9 also deletes the list of substances in Table 3.2 as the harmonized classification and labelling of these substances were based on the criteria set out in Annex VI to Directive 67/548/EEC (Dangerous Substances Directive, DSD). The DSD has been repealed by the CLP Regulation since June 2015.

The new law has 2 effective dates:

• June 1, 2017 for the deletion of Table 3.2

• March 1, 2018 for Table 3.1

The new law will have a pronounced effect on products that are classified as substances, mixtures, or articles such as toys within the meaning of Directive 2009/48/EC.

Highlights of BPA on classification and labelling under the new law and Regulation (EU) 758/2013 are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1: Comparison of BPA under ATP-9 to the CLP Regulation and Regulation (EU) 758/2013

Table 2: Abbreviations/Definitions

Throughout our global network of laboratories, we are able to provide a range of services, including analytical testing and consultancy for restricted substances, safety data sheets (SDSs), as well as chemical safety assessments (CSAs) for the EU and international markets. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

For enquiries, please contact:

Hing Wo Tsang
Global Hardlines
t: +852 2774 7420

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