The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently communicated through their ebulletin about the ongoing developments in the classification, labelling, and packaging of chemicals as per the GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation.
Publication of GB MCL Technical Reports
One of the key updates from this bulletin is the publication of GB mandatory classification and labelling (GB MCL) technical reports. These technical reports serve as independent scientific evaluations of the data submitted through both the stand-alone GB MCL process and the EU harmonised classification and labelling process.
The main focus of these reports is to ascertain whether the scientific evidence is sufficient to justify a new or revised GB MCL for a substance. The latest set of reports can be accessed through the GB MCL publication table provided on the HSE website.
However, it is important to note that at this stage, the classification and labelling detailed in these reports have not been officially accepted or implemented in Great Britain.
For those interested in understanding the future steps following these technical reports, the HSE has detailed information on the GB MCL system.
Another batch of technical reports is anticipated for publication in January 2024, and updates will be shared via CLP ebulletin alerts.
Queries or feedback regarding these technical reports can be directed to GBCLP.GBMCL@hse.gov.uk, and journalists are encouraged to contact the HSE's press office for additional information.
Publication of GB MCL Agency Opinions
In addition to technical reports, the HSE has also published GB MCL Agency Opinions. These opinions propose GB mandatory classification and labelling classifications for chemical substances. The opinions are based on scientific data assessments aligned with the GB CLP Regulation as well as considerations of policy and socio-economic impacts within the UK.
Again, these Agency Opinions are in a proposal stage and have not yet been fully agreed upon or adopted within Great Britain. They too can be found on the HSE website via the GB MCL publication table.
Further Agency Opinions are expected to be published in February 2024, with alerts sent out through the CLP ebulletin service to announce their availability.
These updates reflect the ongoing commitment of the HSE in ensuring the proper classification, labelling, and packaging of chemical substances within Great Britain, as well as maintaining transparent communication with professionals in the field and the general public.
