Chemicals information and packaging


The European Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures, known as the CLP Regulation, replaced the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2009 (CHIP 4). The CLP Regulation implements the United Nations’ Globally Harmonised System (GHS), which replaces different laws across the world controlling how the hazardous properties of chemicals are described and how this information is given to those using them. The CLP Regulation is directly-acting in all EU member states. This means that it does not need to be enacted in UK regulations in order to become law. The Regulation was introduced over a lengthy transitional period. This means that although it became mandatory for substances on 1 December 2010, it did not come into force for mixtures until 1 June 2015. At this point, the CHIP 4 Regulations were repealed in full in the UK.


Suppliers must now classify and label according to CLP, using CLP symbols (black symbols on white with a red diamond-shaped border) rather than CHIP 4, using CHIP symbols (black on orange squares). More information can be found on the Chemical Classification pages of the HSE website, along with further information on the United Nations’ Globally Harmonised System.


The HSE has also published new guidance on the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations (L64), to bring it up to date with regulatory and other changes, including those arising from the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Chemicals (Amendments to Secondary Legislation) Regulations 2015.

This guidance can be downloaded from the HSE website (www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l64.pdf).