Revision of EU legislation on hazard classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals

• Every year, almost 5% of workers that deal with chemicals on a regular basis suffer from chemical exposure that could result in a serious injury or in some cases death.

Problems the initiative aims to tackle:

• The CLP Regulation (classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals) is unclear about the identification and classification of certain chemicals.
• Lack of public awareness on hazardous chemicals.
• Insufficient public resources.
• The legal impossibility for companies to use multilingual fold-out labels (multi-page booklet labels).

Solutions:

• MHR suggests allowing more opportunities for Civil Society Organizations to consult chemical companies into improving their services.
• MHR endorses and supports this initiative and the revision of the EU legislation on hazard classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals.
• MHR suggests that each chemical company stays updated on the legislations done by the EU and/or governmental legislations.
• The CLP Regulation should be revised for errors as soon as possible.
• MHR recommends to update the Regulation whenever there is a change in the classification of a chemical and/or mixture which could result in a more severe hazard.
• Allow companies to use multilingual fold-out paper labels.
• Recognize that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a new hazard classification.
• Recognize that minimum exposure to a certain chemical may not harm the human body but if exposed to such chemical occasionally it could cause further damage.