Since 2010, manufacturers are required to comply with new regulations and update product documentation, including Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and package labelling.

Time to reclassify the chemicals

The classification of a substance or a mixture reflects the type and severity of the hazards, i.e. its potential to cause harm to human beings or to the environment.
Solvay as a manufacturer, importer or downstream user of chemical substances or mixtures has to classify substances (by 2010) and mixtures (by 2015), placed on the EU market, according to the requirements of the EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation.

Meanwhile, it will be critically important to stay up to date with new scientific or technical information that could alter the classification and labelling of any substances or mixtures (art.15).
Finally, CLP regulation stipulates that all information on a substance or mixture must remain available for a period of no less than 10 years after supply.

Labelling inventory

Solvay is required to notify the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) about information relating to the identification, classification and labelling of its substances by January 2011.

New rules for packaging

Substances or mixtures classified as “hazardous” have long since been required to contain packaging with specific labelling.

Under the CLP Regulation, communication on hazards will change in addition to the label and its content. New elements of the labelling include: new pictograms, new signal words, new hazard & precautionary statements.
Solvay is meeting the practical and logistical requirements for labelling and packaging, in addition to internal operational processes: Product Safety, Occupational Health & Industrial, Hygiene, Transport, Supply Chain.

The new label should include the following information : 

• the name, address and telephone number of the supplier of the substance or mixture
• the nominal quantity (for general public packaging)
• the hazard pictograms for supply & use
• the signal pictogram words (danger and warning)
• the appropriate hazard statements
• the appropriate precautionary statements
• where applicable, supplementary information

New hazard communication with Safety Data Sheets

Safety Data Sheets are essential for communicating with suppliers and end-users about product hazards and risks, conditions for use and risk prevention measures.
They are legally required at the workplace, their content will be recast due to REACH/CLP and must include the classification and labelling of the chemicals together with other safety information.
The main task is to obtain all suppliers’ Data Sheets and send new Solvay data sheets to customers and legal organizations.