The European Commission consults the introduction of new hazard classes into CLP

Among the objectives of the CLP Regulation are (i) to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment and (ii) the free movement of substances, mixtures and certain articles.

In order to do so, new hazard classes and their criteria for classification are introduced regularly, bringing EU Chemical Legislation into line with technical and scientific progress.

Following this designation, there has been a significant number of Substances identified as of Very High Concern (SVHCs) under Regulation No.1907/2006 due to their endocrine disrupting properties, highlighting the need to introduce new hazard classes into CLP. The same need arises regarding PBT/vPvB and PMT/vPvM substances (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances).

The expert Group held several meetings throughout the past year where it was discussed all the information provided by the Member States and the stakeholders to update the definition and criteria for new hazard classes. After analyzing that information, they detected the need to update the CLP Regulation to include PBT/vPvB and PMT/vPvM substances and Endocrine Disruptors as new hazard classes due to the following reasons:

• a) "It has been proven that endocrine disruption can lead to certain disorders in humans, among others birth defects, developmental, reproductive or neurodevelopmental disorders, cancer, diabetes and obesity, and that those disorders have a high and increasing incidence in both children and adults. It has also been demonstrated that endocrine disrupting properties can negatively affect animal populations."
• b) "Experience shows that substances with PBT or vPvB properties represent a very high concern. They do not easily break down in the environment and tend to accumulate in living organisms across the food web. Accumulation of those substances in the environment is difficult to reverse, as the emission does not readily cease by lowering their concentration, and the effects of this accumulation are often difficult to predict in the long-term (...) Once those substances are released into the environment, exposure to them is difficult to reverse."

To amend the CLP regulation and introduce the new hazard classes, the European Commission published an open consultation until October 18 with the draft of the new provision.