EU CLP and GB CLP (UK from 1st Jan)

I mentioned GB CLP yesterday in my blog about publication of the new rules for Northern Ireland.

From 1 January 2021, the European Union (EU) CLP Regulation will be replaced in Britain by retained EU law – the GB CLP Regulation. The GB CLP Regulation will be added to Cardinal Environment EHS Legislation Registers & Checklists, and is included in our Brexit Consolidated Law project (the coloured list).

Businesses based in Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) that place chemicals (substances and mixtures) on the GB market will comply with the GB CLP Regulation (not the EU CLP Regulation) from 1st January.

GB CLP Agency

GB-based businesses supplying the GB market with chemicals (substances and mixtures) will deal with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as the GB CLP Agency instead of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

GB Notification

GB-based businesses will notify the GB CLP Agency (not ECHA) of the classification and labelling of the substances they place on the GB market, whether on their own or in mixtures, where they meet the criteria for notification (please check that notification is not required if the substance is subject to UK REACH registration).

GB mandatory classification and labelling (GB MCL)

GB-based businesses will classify and label their substances, where required, in accordance with GB MCL and with the entries in the GB MCL list hosted and managed by the GB CLP Agency.

Downstream users and distributors supplied from the EU/ European Economic Area (EEA)

GB-based downstream users or distributors supplied from the EU/EEA will be importers after 31st December if these supply arrangements continue. 

Exporting to the EU/EEA

Responsibility for the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals exported to the EU/EEA from Britain will rest with the EU/EEA-based importer.

Unchanged from 1st Jan 2021 –

The main duties on GB-based businesses i.e. manufacturers, importers, downstream users and distributors (“suppliers”) to classify, label and package the chemicals (substances and mixtures) they place on the market under the GB CLP Regulation will stay the same.

Classification

From January 2021, GB-based manufacturers, importers and downstream users will still classify substances and mixtures) i.e. identify any hazardous properties, before they place them on the GB market.

Labelling

Manufacturers, importers, downstream users and distributors based in Britain will still label substances and mixtures to reflect their hazard classification before they place them on the GB market.

There are no changes to requirements for when GB CLP Regulation labelling appears alongside those for transport (dangerous good transport).

Packaging

There are no changes to packaging requirements. Substances and mixtures placed on the GB market must still be safely and securely packaged. Requirements for child resistant closures and tactile warning devices will remain in place.

Responsibility to identify health, environmental and physical hazards 

All suppliers based in Britain will continue to be responsible for identifying, examining and evaluating available scientific and information on substances and mixtures relating to possible physical, health or environmental hazardous properties of chemicals. This is to ensure all the requirements of classification, labelling and packaging are fulfilled.

Testing arrangements 

Testing arrangements for chemicals, including a ban on testing on humans or primates for the purposes of the GB CLP Regulation, will still apply.

Relationship with UN GHS

The GB CLP Regulation, as retained EU law, will continue to adopt changes to the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of classification and labelling of chemicals (UN GHS) in a similar way to the EU CLP Regulation.

Northern Ireland- based Businesses

The EU CLP Regulation will apply in Northern Ireland. This will mean that:

* chemicals (substances or mixtures) placed on the market in Northern Ireland will comply with the EU CLP Regulation (not the GB CLP Regulation)

* Northern Ireland- based businesses will notify ECHA (not the HSE) of the hazard classification and labelling of the substances they place on the NI market, for inclusion in the EU Classification and Labelling Inventory, whether on their own or in mixtures, where they meet the criteria for notification (notification is not required if the substance is subject to EU REACH registration)

* Northern Ireland-based downstream users and distributors who are currently supplied by businesses in the EU/EEA will not face any new EU CLP Regulation requirements if these supply arrangements continue (GB businesses will be importers – see above)

Responsibility for the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals traded from Britain to Northern Ireland will rest with the Northern Ireland based business who places the chemical on the Northern Ireland market even if it is currently a downstream user or distributor.

NI- based businesses placing goods on the GB market must study the new Rules for Northern Ireland published yesterday. Please note the relevant clauses of the Internal Market Bill are dropped (and the HSE Guidance is not yet updated).

Link to HSE.

UK exits the EU (ECHA advice to companies)

I posted earlier with the European Commission Notices to Companies. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has also issued advice to companies. This covers :

(1) general

(2) Reach

(3) CLP (Classification, Labelling & Packaging)

(4) BPD – Biocides (see also my earlier post on the European Commission Notice to Companies, and Q&A)

(5) PIC

The ECHA information is accessed here. 

Safety Data Sheets (GHS)

In Europe, safety data sheets are governed by the EU REACH Regulation and are changing. One of the changes is to align with EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP). CLP implements the international Globally Harmonised System for standardising the classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS).

Here is the EU OSHA guidance on EU CLP.

In the US, safety data sheets are also changing.

Here is the US Department of Labor OSHA Guide to GHS which refers to the GHS “purple book” and gives a lot of detail.

Here is the US OSHA Fact Sheet on the new US ‘Hazard Communication Standard Final Rule’.