Understanding EU retained law for your business
- 1 step
Retained EU Law
2008
United Kingdom
Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (UK CLP)
Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (Text with EEA relevance)
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
32 compliance obligations, 7 practical guides across 2 topics · 4 journeys
Penalty landscape
5 of 32 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 27 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Manufacturer 23
- Trader 5
- Any Person 3
- Employer 1
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
UK REACH registration deadline approaching
- 1 step
Chemicals compliance in the UK
- 3 steps
UK REACH compliance checklist
- 3 steps
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
5 guidesMentioned in related content
2 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Manufacturers also bound by 50 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 91 duties
- Medical Devices Regulations 2002 2002 37 duties
- UK REACH Regulation (retained EU law) 2006 26 duties
- Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 2011 25 duties
- Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 2017 24 duties
Traders also bound by 248 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 928 duties
- The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 2018 93 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 70 duties
- Council Directive 2006/112/EC (EU VAT Directive - retained for reference) 2006 67 duties
- Payment Services Regulations 2017 2017 58 duties
Any Person also bound by 487 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 162 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 106 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 104 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 101 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 92 duties
Employers also bound by 192 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 176 duties
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 123 duties
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 84 duties
- Employment Rights Act 1996 1996 56 duties
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 1989 52 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Hazardous substances and mixtures and specification of hazard classes
- Classify hazardous substances and mixtures Manufacturer
General obligations to classify, label and package
2 years imprisonment- Classify, label and package chemicals before placing them on the market Manufacturer
Identification and examination of available information on substances
- Identify and assess information on chemical substances Manufacturer
Identification and examination of available information on mixtures
- Identify and assess hazard information for chemical mixtures Manufacturer
Animal and human testing
- Avoid animal or human testing unless no alternatives exist Any Person
Evaluation of hazard information for substances and mixtures
- Evaluate hazard information for chemicals you place on the market Manufacturer
Concentration limits and M-factors for classification of substances and mixtures
- Set concentration limits and M‑factors for hazardous substances Manufacturer
Specific cases requiring further evaluation
- Take additional scientific data into account when classifying chemicals Employer
Decision to classify substances and mixtures
- Classify hazardous substances and mixtures you place on the market Manufacturer
Review of classification for substances and mixtures
- Monitor new information and re‑evaluate hazardous classification Manufacturer
General rules
- Label hazardous substances and mixtures in packaging Manufacturer
Product identifiers
- Include correct product identifiers on chemical labels Manufacturer
Hazard pictograms
2 years imprisonment- Include correct hazard pictograms on product labels Manufacturer
Signal words
- Use correct signal word on hazardous product labels Manufacturer
Hazard statements
- Label hazardous substances with correct hazard statements Manufacturer
Precautionary statements
- Include correct precautionary statements on chemical labels Manufacturer
Supplemental information on the label
- Include required supplemental information on chemical labels Manufacturer
Updating information on labels
- Update hazard labels promptly when classification changes Trader
General rules for the application of labels
- Affix compliant hazard label to substance or mixture packaging Manufacturer
Location of information on the label
- Arrange label elements together and group by language Trader
Specific rules for labelling of outer packaging, inner packaging and single packaging
2 years imprisonment- Label all chemical packaging correctly Manufacturer
Packaging
2 years imprisonment- Ensure safe, child‑resistant packaging for hazardous substances Manufacturer
Mandatory classification and labelling of substances
- Classify and label hazardous substances before placing them on the market Manufacturer
Content of opinions and decisions for mandatory classification and labelling in the GB mandatory classification and labelling list ; accessibility of information
- Protect commercial confidentiality during chemical classification Any Person
Obligation to notify the Agency
- Notify the Agency of new hazardous substances placed on the market Manufacturer
Agreed entries
- Agree on a single database entry for each substance Manufacturer
The GB notification database
- Ensure hazardous chemical information is submitted for the GB database Manufacturer
Penalties for non-compliance
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with CLP classification, labelling or packaging duties Any Person
Advertisement
- Include hazard information in ads for hazardous chemicals Trader
Obligation to maintain information and requests for information
- Keep classification and labelling records for 10 years Trader
Amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 from 1 June 2015
- Provide safety data sheet on request for certain non‑hazardous mixtures Manufacturer
CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING REQUIREMENTS FOR HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AND MIXTURES
- Cooperate and keep records of hazardous substance classification Trader
Browse 45 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Purpose and scope
Definitions
Generating new information for substances and mixtures
Cut-off values
Specific rules for the classification of mixtures
Classification of substances included in the classification and labelling inventory
Derogations from labelling requirements for special cases
Request for use of an alternative chemical name
Principles of precedence for hazard pictograms
Principles of precedence for hazard statements
Principles of precedence for precautionary statements
Exemptions from labelling and packaging requirements
Report on communication on safe use of chemicals
Procedure for mandatory classification and labelling where the EU Risk Assessment Committee publishes an opinion
Scope
Appointment of competent authorities and enforcement authorities and cooperation between authorities
Helpdesk
Appointment of bodies responsible for receiving information relating to emergency health response
Enforcement and reporting
Tasks of the Agency
Free movement clause
Safeguard clause
Adaptations to technical and scientific progress
Committee procedure
Amendments to Directive 67/548/EEC
Amendments to Directive 1999/45/EC
Amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 from the entry into force of this Regulation
Amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 from 1 December 2010
Repeal
Transitional provisions
Entry into force
Exercise of the delegation
GB mandatory classification and labelling list
HARMONISED INFORMATION RELATING TO EMERGENCY HEALTH RESPONSE AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
HAZARD PICTOGRAMS
LIST OF HAZARD STATEMENTS, SUPPLEMENTAL HAZARD INFORMATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL LABEL ELEMENTS
LIST OF PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
Mandatory classification and labelling for certain hazardous substances
Procedure for mandatory classification and labelling of substances where Article 37(1) does not apply
Regulation making power
Separate delegated acts for different delegated powers
SPECIAL RULES FOR LABELLING AND PACKAGING OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCES AND MIXTURES
The consent requirement
Translation table from classification under Directive 67/548/EEC to classification under this Regulation
Urgency procedure
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- HSE enforcement guide (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- Export chemicals - licences and special rules (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Hazardous substances (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Submitting chemicals information to the National Poisons Information Service (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Comply with UK REACH (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Chemical classification, labelling and packaging (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Health and Safety Executive
Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.