CHIP or CLP – REGULATION CHANGES
CLP is replacing the long standing CHIP (Chemicals Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations…
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO MERTON GROUP CUSTOMERS?
WHAT IS CLP?
“CLP” is short for a very long EU Regulation, both in its title and its content! Its full name is:
Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.
European Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures came into force on 20th January 2009 in all EU Member States, including the UK. It is known by its abbreviated form, ‘the CLP Regulation’ or just plain ‘CLP’.
The CLP Regulation adopts the United Nations’ Globally Harmonised System on the classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS) across all European Union countries, including the UK. As GHS is a voluntary agreement rather than a law, it has to be adopted through a suitable national or regional legal mechanism to ensure it becomes legally binding.
That’s what the CLP Regulation does.
CLP is replacing the long standing CHIP (Chemicals Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations.
WHAT EFFECT WILL THIS HAVE?
The new regulation means an update to the labelling of chemical products.
OLD Pictograms like these –
Are replaced by NEW ones like these –
Accompanying descriptive indicators like ‘Harmful’ or “Flammable’ will become simpler with replacements like ‘Danger’ and ‘Warning’.
Risk and Safety Phrases will change to Hazard Statements and Precautionary Statements, some of which are quite similar to their predecessors but there are also many new phrases.
It also means that all Product Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) will be updated with new information. This information will now be longer and more comprehensive.
Some MSDS will no longer include product ingredients/composition. This is due to changes in the requirements to detail ingredients that fall beneath certain concentration levels. If you require more details than available on a product MSDS then contact us and we might be able to assist.
DON’T PANIC!
You will see more symbols, more often. Products that previously had no symbol may now include the Health Hazard Symbol due to most products being irritable to eyes. None of the products have changed but under new CLP Regulation they may now include more information on their labels but that is nothing to worry about.
DATES AND TIMING
CLP classification is now in force. It started June 1st 2015.
That means –
- Manufacturers must now produce products with new labelling and MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets).
- Distributors have 2 years (until 1st June 2017) to supply old labelled stock. .
- End users are not affected by the changes and can continue to use products they have for as long as they last, according to their shelf life of course.
- Merton Group will supply CHIP labelled products until stock naturally replenishes with new CLP versions.
- Merton Group’s website will be updated with new MSDS as required.
More information about the new symbols and what they mean can be seen here –
CLP SYMBOL MEANINGS AND WHAT THEY WILL REPLACE
If you would like this information in PDF format
please download it here – CHIP & CLP LEAFLET MGUK