Classification and Labeling of Chemical Substances

Current work on the new EU legislation for chemicals, REACH, as well as the implementahon of a Globally Harmonized System of Classihcation and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) (Sechon 2.5) within the EU will lead to a major revision of the EU classihcation and labeling system. 

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The 12th Adaptation to Technical Progress [7] of the Dangerous Substances Directive contained, for the first time, the requirements and criteria for classification and labelling of chemical substances dangerous for the environment and the 7th Amendment [8] to the Dangerous Substances Directive gave the symbol N for this which depicts a dead fish and a dead tree. 

To some extent, public institutions may be involved in hazard and risk assessments and decide on risk management, such as for (harmonised) classification and labelling of chemical substances, for authorisation of biocides and of plant protection products and for specific regulatory activities like bans or restrictions on the use of certain very hazardous chemicals. 

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