Revision of the CLP Regulation – what companies now need to consider when labeling products

With the updated CLP Regulation (Classification, Labeling and Packaging), companies are faced with new labeling requirements that are quite a challenge.

At the end of April, the EU Parliament adopted the draft of the revised CLP Regulation. As soon as the EU Council has also approved it, the regulation will be published in the EU Official Journal and will enter into force 20 days later.

What is changing

The CLP revision will result in new obligations for companies. These relate in particular to C&L notifications, i.e. the entry in the Classification and Labelling Inventory (C&L), the new requirements for advertising and online stores as well as clarifications on obligations in relation to PCN notification. The new rules on product labeling will be a particular challenge.

How labels should be designed

The primary aim is to improve the legibility of labels:

• Minimum sizes for font and line spacing depending on the capacity of the packaging (Annex I, section 1.2.1.4. Table 1.3),
• Use of a single font is permitted and
• the background of the label must be white.

It is already foreseeable that companies will reach their limits due to the strict minimum requirements for label design. Due to the great logistical and technical complexity of the task, you should deal with these requirements at an early stage.

The digital label is coming

In addition to the label, a digital label is also to be introduced in the future. This digitalization will adapt the CLP Regulation to the requirements of online trade and/or trade in refill products. For example, the label provides information on hazards and safety instructions for the sale of refill chemicals. The exact requirements are supplemented in Title III of the CLP Regulation (Chapter 3, Articles 34a, 34b).

Always keep the deadlines in mind

The final adoption of the revised regulation is expected after the summer break in Brussels. To give companies time to implement the new regulations, the regulation sets transitional periods of between 18 and 48 months after entry into force for the various new requirements.

Who we are

KFT Chemieservice GmbH, an Infraserv Höchst Group company, is one of Germany’s leading chemical compliance service providers. We ensure that companies comply fully with all the requirements imposed by chemical laws.

What we do for you

• We analyze the status quo and plan the necessary steps together with you.
• We advise you on the correct implementation of the labeling requirements.
• We support you in implementing the amended C&L notifications, new requirements for advertising and online stores and all other new requirements.
• We check and update your safety data sheets (SDS) and can also take over the complete SDS management on request.

The best thing to do is to contact us right away.