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. You need to make sure you comply with these rules before placing chemical products on the market .
You will find the latest consolidated version of the CLP Regulation from 2023-12-01 below. Consolidation means that the original legal act and all subsequent amendments and corrections have been brought together in a single document.
Amendments and corrections
Not fully included in the latest consolidated version of the CLP Regulation:
Commission Delegted Regulation (EU) 2024/2564 (ATP22), (pdf, 678 kB)
External link.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/197 (ATP21), (pdf, 722 kB) External link.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1435 (ATP20), (pdf, 399 kB) External link.
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.
Additional rules to the CLP Regulation
Ongoing revision of the CLP Regulation
Revision of the CLP Regulation (europa.eu) at the EU Commission website External link.
Current EU public consultations
Recent consultations on harmonised classification and labelling External link.
CLP in brief
The CLP Regulation requires manufacturers, importers or downstream users of substances or mixtures to classify, label and package their hazardous chemicals appropriately before placing them on the market.
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 package labelling with e.g. hazard pictograms, signal words and hazard and precautionary statements. This and more information is also provided to professional users in the safety data sheets.
Be aware that provisions under Union legislation other than the CLP Regulation (downstream legislation) may be triggered by the classification of your substance or mixture. The list of legislations where measures need to be taken based on hazard classification according to CLP is long and some examples given in Chapter 21 in ECHA’s “Introductory Guidance on 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 e.g.:
- Notification to the Classification and Labelling Inventory.
- The need to generate a unique formula identifier (UFI) and to submit mixture information to the appointed bodies in the Member State which is used for emergency health response (the Poison Centres).
- Requests for alternative chemical names in mixtures.
- Harmonised classification and labelling
ECHA (the European chemicals agency) provide detailed information and guidance on all parts of the CLP Regulation through web pages, in published guidance documents and in Questions and Answers.
External links:
ECHA’s CLP web pages. External link.