CLP - Classification, Labelling and Packaging
What the CLP regulation is, knowing your role within the supply chain and your responsibilities to ensure compliance
If you are a supplier of substances and mixtures and produce or import certain specific articles, you need to find out what duties you have under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation.
Under CLP you may have one of these roles:
- manufacturer
- importer
- distributer (including retailer)
- downstream user (including formulator / re-importer)
Everyone in the supply chain is responsible for ensuring that substances and mixtures are labelled and packaged correctly before being placed on the market.
This guide will explain to anyone importing, manufacturing or distributing chemicals in Northern Ireland and / or Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) how the EU CLP and GB CLP rules might affect their business.
Keep up to date with CLP
To keep up to date with news on EU CLP (such as updates on consultations, Adaptions to Technical Progress, new proposals to harmonise classification and labelling) you can register for the European Chemicals Agency weekly email.
To keep up to date with information relating to GB CLP, which is important if you wish to access the GB market, you can sign up to the Health & Safety Executive (GB) eBulletins.
You can also see our guide on how to keep up to date on chemicals regimes.
EU CLP
Your role and responsibilities under EU CLP and where to get support for your activities which fall within scope
Classification, Labelling and Packaging (EU CLP) is a European Union regulation. EU CLP continues to apply in Northern Ireland.
EU CLP applies if you are based in NI and purchase goods from outside the EU, eg from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). You must ensure that all hazardous chemicals products you place in the NI and / or EU markets are complaint with EU CLP.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has more information on EU CLP and your role and responsibilities.
Your role under EU CLP
Your obligations under EU CLP depends on your role and where you sit in the supply chain. Everyone in the supply chain has a responsibility to ensure that they have identified the hazards of substances and mixtures, and that they communicate this information using labelling and safety data sheets in accordance with CLP and the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) Regulations.
For more information on your role and responsibilities see Section 2 of the Introductory Guidance on CLP.
Submitting information to the National Poison Information Service
Importers and downstream users placing hazardous mixtures on the NI market are required to provide specific information on their products to the National Poison Information Service (NPIS) in accordance with Annex VIII of EU CLP Regulation.
NI-based downstream users and distributors that are supplied with mixtures from GB-based businesses are defined as importers under the EU CLP Regulation. You must comply with the duties of an importer, including providing specific information on your products to the NPIS in accordance with Annex VIII.
For more information, see guidance on submitting chemicals information to the NPIS.
Information on chemicals under EU CLP
You should regularly check the following annexes and lists to keep up to date with information on chemicals relevant to your business:
- Classification and Labelling Inventory
- Registry of classification and labelling (CLH) intentions until outcome
EU CLP Calls for Evidence and consultations
ECHA organises consultations to get feedback and scientific information for the regulatory process. You can contribute to the following types of consultation:
- Harmonised classification and labelling consultations
- Harmonised classification and labelling targeted consultations
- Consultations on ECHA Executive Director’s requests related to the CLH process
Northern Ireland Chemical Stakeholder Forum
Planning has started on setting up a Northern Ireland Chemicals Stakeholder Forum If you would be interested in participating in the forum, please register your interest by emailing chemicals.team@economy-ni.gov.uk.
Further support for EU CLP
In the first instance if you have any queries relating to CLP, you can contact the CLP Helpdesk by email at ukreach.clp@hse.gov.uk.
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has a role in EU CLP enforcement. If you have any queries relating to compliance, send an email to chemicals@hseni.gov.uk.
ECHA also provides a directory of contact points for specific queries on chemicals regulations.
If you need further assistance or have any queries on the guidance on this page email the Department for the Economy Chemicals Team at chemicals.team@economy-ni.gov.uk.
GB CLP
Your role and responsibilities under GB CLP and where to get support for activities which fall within scope
Great Britain Classification, Labelling and Packaging (GB CLP) came into effect on 1 January 2021. If you are placing goods in the Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) market, you must comply with GB CLP.
GB CLP is retained European Union (EU) law, which has been amended to allow it to operate fully and effectively in GB - find out more about the changes.
Your role under GB CLP
Your obligations under CLP will depend on your role and where you sit in the supply chain. Everyone in the supply chain has a responsibility to ensure that they have identified the hazards of substances and mixtures, and that they communicate this information using labelling and safety data sheets in accordance with CLP and registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) Regulations.
For more information on your role and responsibilities under GB CLP see guidance on what do I need to do?
Supplying chemicals to GB market
Northern Ireland businesses supplying substances or mixtures directly to the GB market as Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods (QNIG) have a legal duty to comply with the GB CLP Regulation.
The legal duties of NI-based suppliers ,such as manufacturers, downstream users and distributors directly supplying QNIG to the GB market, differ from those specified for GB-based suppliers supplying the GB market - find out more about the difference.
You may also be required to submit a notification to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) within one month of placing new substances on the GB market - see how to submit a GB CLP substance notification.
Submitting information to the National Poison Information Service
GB-based importers and downstream users, and NI-based downstream users directly supplying the GB market with qualifying NI goods (QNIGs), are encouraged to voluntarily submit information relating to emergency health response, and preventative measures on hazardous mixtures placed on the GB market, to the National Poison Information Service (NPIS) using a safety data sheet (SDS).
For more information, see guidance on submitting chemicals information to the NPIS.
Information on chemicals under CLP
The GB Mandatory Classification and Labelling List gives information on the classification and hazard labelling of substances and is legally binding in GB. This list should be used to classify and label chemicals you place on the GB market.
GB CLP Calls for Evidence and consultations
HSE regularly organises consultations to obtain feedback and gather scientific information for the regulatory process. You can contribute to these consultations on HSE‘s Citizen Space.
HSE also encourages businesses and other interested parties to respond to ECHA CLP public consultations.
Further Support for GB CLP
If you have any queries relating to CLP, contact the CLP Helpdesk by email at ukreach.clp@hse.gov.uk.
For general enquiries relating to GB CLP please contact the UK Chemicals Helpline on Tel. 0330 159 1985. Opening hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
HSE has a role in CLP enforcement. If you have any queries relating to compliance, please send an email to CRDEnforcement@hse.gov.uk.