Labeling of Dangerous Substances and Preparations

A central duty for a person who is responsible for placing products on the market is to investigate and assess their intrinsic properties. The stipulated procedures for substances and preparations are quite different, although the main principles have to have the same objectives. The classification and labeUng are carried out with the aim of ensuring that the users of a product receive all the information necessary to fulfil their obhgations in the field of occupational safety and health and the protection of the environment. 

Substances have to be checked to determine whether they are listed in annex I of the Dangerous Substance Directive 67/54 /EEC [4-1]. Classification and labeling are obligatory and are not allowed to change. If new information becomes available which could change the classification and labeling, the European Chemical Bureau (ECB) has to be immediately provided with all the important data (for details see Section 4.4). 

In the case of substances listed in EINECS [4-2] and not in annex I of the Substance Directive [4-1], the manufacturer, distributor, and importer of dangerous substances have the obligation to investigate the available data concerning the properties of the substance. For a provisional classification on the basis of the rules laid down in annex VI of the Substance Directive, see Sections 3.3 and 3.4. The responsible persons are generally not required to perform their own experimental testing except in the case of new substances (for detailed information see Chapter 5). 

Although no legal requirement exists, the customer should usually be able to trust the information about substances provided by the producer or distributor. Therefore, the classification, labeling, and submitted safety data sheets are from the best available data source. Of course, in the case of an obviously wrong declaration, a correction has to be made, preferable after feedback to the supplier. In the case of different classifications by different suppliers, an own assessment has to be done. 

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Labeling of Dangerous Substances and Preparations 95 Table 4.4 Obligatory S-phrases depending on the property of the substance. 

DG XI (responsible for Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection including Notification, Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances and Preparations)... 

Classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances and preparations. 

Also the issue of hazard classification and labeling of dangerous substances and preparations, and essential oils containing hazardous components will be addressed and some examples will be given. This relates to the recent publication of the Commission Directive 2006/8/EC amending the Dangerous Preparations Directive 1999/45/EC. 

Approved Supply List. Information approved for the classification and labelling of dangerous substances and preparations for supply (seventh edition) LI 29, HSE Books, 2002... 

Regardless of the harmonized EU requirements for the classification and labeling of dangerous substances and preparations (mixtures), a recently amended administrative regulation on substances hazardous to waters requires the classification of substances and preparations into three water hazard classes, i.e. 

The Chemicals (Hazardous Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (CHIP) that were enacted in 1993 under the HSWA, together with subsequent amendments, are concerned with the supply of dangerous substances and preparations and sets out how these should be classified, labelled and packaged. There is also a requirement on the supplier to provide safety data sheets. 

Substances have to be classified as harmful if moderate amounts can have fatal effects or cause severe health problems. The labeling of harmful substances and preparations has to be done with the dedicated R-phrases and the hazard symbol St. Andrew s Cross (Xn) with the indication of danger harmful . The exact criteria are summarized in Table 3.6. 

Approved Supply List as the document entitled Information Approved for the Classification and Labelling of Dangerous Substances and Dangerous Preparations , Guidance on the Regulations (7th Edition) (see Section 11.5)... 

Under the Classification and Labelling Directive, manufacturers or importers of a new chemical must notify the competent authority of the relevant Member State. In the United Kingdom, the competent authority is the Health and Safety Executive along with the Department of the Environment. As of 1993, EC Directives on dangerous substances and preparations wiU be implemented in the United Kingdom means of the Chemicals (Hazard Information and P kaging) Regulations (CHIP) [5]. 

Substances which have lethal effects in very low amounts or can lead to very severe diseases are regarded as very toxic. For labeling very toxic substances and preparations, the relevant R-phrases, the skull-and-crossbones danger symbol, T+ , and the indication of danger very toxic are used. The scientific criteria for the classification are summarized in Table 3.1. 

The danger symbols must signal the most important hazard and therefore have the effect of a first important announcement. On the other hand the R- and S-phrases are more addressed to informed people. Every package of dangerous substances or preparations should have a clear and indehble label with the following elements, laid down in the above-mentioned Directives ... 

Within the European Economic Community, dangerous substances and preparations must, by law, be provided with a warning label bearing all the above indications in the language of the country in which the product is located (EEC Directive 67/548). 

Labeling of dangerous chemicals (with hazard symbols, risk, and safety phrases) Obligation for safety data sheets for dangerous substances and preparations... 

Substances or preparations requiring to be labelled with the risk phrase R45 (may cause cancer) or R49 (may cause cancer by inhalation) under CHIPS are listed in Table 5.16 after the 5th edition of the Approved Supply List (Information approved for the classification and labelling of substances and preparations dangerous for supply). This list excludes certain coal and oil-based substances which attract the phrase R45 only when they contain a certain percentage of a marker substance (e.g. benzene). 

Approved guide to the classification and labelling of substances and preparations dangerous for supply Safe working m confined spaces - Approved Code of Practice, Regulations and guidance - Confined Spaces Regulations 1997... 

Regulate the classification, provision of safety data sheets, labelling and packaging of substances and preparations dangerous for supply. There are specific exceptions, e.g. medicines, pesticides, wastes, radioactive substances or preparations. 

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