CLP - Classification, Labelling and Packaging

The CLP Regulation contains rules on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances and mixtures placed on the EU market. It also contains rules on the notification of information on substances and mixtures. When you place chemical products on the market, you need to make sure to comply with these rules.

You will find the consolidated version of the CLP Regulation from 2024-12-10 below. Consolidation means that the original legal act and subsequent amendments and corrections have been brought together in a single document.

Find legal acts in EUR-lex

All legal acts are published in the Official Journal of the European Union in EUR-Lex, the online portal to EU law.

The basic Regulation and all amendments and corrections to the CLP Regulation are available in EUR-Lex. External link.

Additional rules to the CLP Regulation

Fees for submitting proposals for harmonized classification and labelling of a substance and fees for applying to use an alternative chemical name under the CLP Regulation.

Regulation on fees (EC) No 440/2010 External link.

CLP in brief

The CLP Regulation requires manufacturers, importers and downstream users of substances and mixtures to classify, label and package their hazardous chemicals appropriately before placing them on the market. It also contains rules on the notification of information on substances and mixtures.

One of the main aims of the regulation is to determine whether a substance or mixture displays properties that lead to a hazardous classification. In this context, classification is the starting point for hazard communication.

The information about the hazards and how to protect oneself and the environment is communicated to users through labelling on the packaging. Labelling elements includes for exemple hazard pictograms, signal words and hazard and precautionary statements and unique formula identifiers (UFI:s). This and more information must also be provided to professional users in the safety data sheets.

Be aware that provisions under other Union acts (downstream legislation) may be triggered by the classification and labelling according to the CLP Regulation.

The CLP Regulation is legally binding across the EU Member States and directly applicable to all industrial sectors.

Other requirements in the CLP Regulation deals with for example.:

  • Harmonised classification and labelling
  • Notification to the Classification and Labelling Inventory.
  • Submit poison centre notifications (PCN) for hazardous mixtures via ECHA´s PCN-portal. The information is used for emergency health response by the appointed bodies in the Member State (the Poison Centres).
  • Requests for alternative chemical names in mixtures.
  • Harmonised classification and labelling

The European chemicals agency, ECHA provide detailed information and guidance on all parts of the CLP Regulation through web pages, in published guidance documents and in Questions and Answers.

ECHA’s CLP web pages. External link.

ECHA’s CLP guidance document. External link.

ECHA’s Questions and Answers. External link.

Last published 16 April 2025