The European Commission is organising a workshop that aims to address the challenges faced by companies and in particular SMEs to comply with the new rules for classification, labelling, packaging of mixtures introduced by the CLP regulation (Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Hazardous Chemicals).

The event will bring together stakeholders such as industry associations, business support organisations, trade unions, and consumer associations, as well as competent authorities and the national CLP helpdesks. All organisations whose members need to know about and/or comply with the regulation are invited to participate and to contribute to the discussions.

The workshop will:

• Identify main challenges for a timely implementation of the CLP Regulation
• Discuss practical solutions to the specific needs of SMEs
• Promote the safe use of chemicals in Europe

The CLP Regulation is relatively new EU legislation that adapted the harmonised criteria for the classification, packaging and labelling of chemicals to the international GHS system (Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals). Its purpose is to ensure a high level of protection of health and the environment, as well as free movement of substances, mixtures and articles. In line with international agreements, CLP requires companies to classify, label and package their hazardous chemicals appropriately before placing them on the market. The new provisions have applied for substances already since 2010, but for mixtures, which represent the vast majority of products on the market, the new provisions will apply as of 1 June 2015.

Although the obligations are similar to previous EU legislation, there are some important differences. Moreover, the number of products that must be re-labelled to comply with the CLP is enormous, including both consumer items (such as paints or detergents) as well as industrial mixtures. The majority of the operators concerned are SMEs, who may not be fully informed of the new regulation and the related obligations. Therefore, the workshop aims to attract multipliers of information towards SMEs in the first place and to help spreading the message to companies of the need for action to update their chemicals labels in line with CLP.

For more information, click here

Registration by 26 August 2014 via the above link