Classification and labelling index

Even according the old Chemicals Act substances have to be classified and labelled in the EU. Classification means that in view of the known properties the substance is classified with a certain hazard level. Substances can for example be caustic or toxic or hazardous to the environment - depending on their properties. The different hazard criteria are provided with certain, partially drastic, symbols so that everybody immediately recognises these hazardous properties when he e.g. fills an industrial machine or cleans a toilet with the hazardous substance. Everybody knows the acid drop which burns a hole in the stretched hand (symbol for caustic) or the skull with crossed bones (symbol for toxic, very toxic).

REACH maintains the current system for classification and labelling of substances. It is, however, new that all producers or importers of a substance have to notify their classification to the agency. Similar to authorisation the produced or imported quantity is not of importance when notifying the classification and labelling. The classification and labelling of substances of which less than 1 t per year are produced or imported have to be notified to the agency as well. The agency establishes a list of notified classifications and labels which is available for everybody via homepage. In case the agency receives information with regard to classification and labelling of a substance within the frame of registration, this information is, of course, adopted in the C & L register. In that case a separate notification of classification is no longer necessary.

The sense of the C & L register is that different producers or importers come to the same classification. Up to now each producer can determine an own classification for the substance in case he is of the opinion that this classification can be derived from the known properties of the substance. In case a second producer does not share this opinion he selects another classification. For the downstream users, i.e. the customers of the two producers, who are buying alternately from the first and second producer it is often difficult to decide which classification is the "better" or "correct" one. In the course of time the C & L register will result in a standardised classification which will be of considerable help for the downstream users.