On 20 April 2023, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published a press release to remind the entry into force on the same day of the new hazard classes introduced at the end of March in the CLP Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of substances. This is an opportunity for the Agency to reiterate the deadlines for implementation, and to announce the forthcoming implementation of the necessary tools for this purpose.
Delegated Regulation 2023/707 established several new classifications in the CLP Regulation: • Two “Endocrine Disruptor” classifications, one for human health, the other for the environment, Category 1 - known or presumed EDs, Category 2: suspected EDs
• Two “PBT” classifications for Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic substances or mixtures and “vPvB” for very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative substances or mixtures
• Two classifications “PMT” for Persistent, Mobile and Toxic substances or mixtures, and “vPvM” for Very Persistent and Very Mobile substances or mixtures
These classifications are therefore in force as of 20 April 2023, which means that Member States can make proposals for harmonised classification and labelling (HCL) with the new hazard classes and manufacturers, importers, downstream users and distributors can self-classify their substances and mixtures accordingly.
Transitional periods
Transitional periods are foreseen during which operators are not yet required to classify and label their substances or mixtures according to the new hazard classes. However, they can be applied on a voluntary basis. • For substances, the date of application is 1 May 2025, with an additional transition period of 18 months for those already on the market, which must therefore comply by 1 November 2026. • For mixtures, the date …
