The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launches the Classification and Labelling Platform
31 January 2013
The Classification Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation aims to protect workers, consumers and the environment from the hazardous effects of chemicals by ensuring that the chemical industry classifies and labels them correctly and consistently. CLP includes an obligation to notify all hazardous substances placed on the EU market to the classification and labelling (C&L) inventory at ECHA.
Following the publication of the C&L inventory in February 2012, it became apparent that in some cases the classification and labelling information for the same substances was different. To assist industry address this problem, ECHA has launched a web-based discussion forum where C&L notifiers and REACH registrants of the same substance can come together and agree on the classification and labelling of their substance.
The publication of the C&L Platform is one of the ECHA initiatives to support companies to proactively work on the quality of their notifications and better fulfil their legal obligations. These include coming to agreed entries on the C&L Inventory when appropriate. It provides an easy and safe way for companies to get in contact with notifiers or registrants of the same substance. The aim is to facilitate compliance with the CLP Regulation and improve the overall quality of the public C&L Inventory data.
The C&L Platform is simple and user-friendly. It can be accessed through the C&L Inventory web page on the ECHA website and discussion features are available for each substance that has different notifications in its Inventory summary page. Each discussion room is accessible only to those registrants and notifiers who have submitted a notification for that particular substance.
Once agreement is reached on a common classification and labelling, companies have to notify the Agency accordingly and update their notifications in REACH-IT. These changes are subsequently reflected in the public C&L Inventory on the ECHA website.
Dr Sharon McGuinness, Assistant Chief Executive and head of the Chemicals Business Services Division at the Health and Safety Authority, adds that, “The C&L platform will ensure increased transparency and more effective communication on the hazards that chemicals pose to workers and ultimately to consumers.”
Irish companies are encouraged to participate in the C&L platform to reach agreement on the self-classification and labelling of hazardous substances. This will also benefit Irish SMEs as they will be able to follow the classifications set by larger companies.
The Chemical Business Services Division of the Authority is responsible for supporting a range of chemical legislation, including the EU Regulations REACH and CLP. The Division liaises with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and participates in a number of ECHA committees as required by these Regulations.
ECHA is organising a public webinar in March on the use of the platform. More information will soon be published on the ECHA homepage
