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CHIP 3 - an overview
CHIP 3 will replace the
existing CHIP (the Chemicals Hazard Information & Packaging for Supply)
Regulations 1994, together with the current editions of:
- the Approved Classification and Labelling Guide
(ACLG);
- the Approved Supply List (ASL);
- the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) on Test Methods;
and
- and the ACoP on Safety Data Sheets.
CHIP implements a series of European Directives
concerned with classification, packaging and labelling for supply of:
- dangerous substances (chemical elements and their
compounds, e.g. chlorine and sodium hypochlorite) and
- dangerous preparations (mixtures or solutions of
substances, e.g. paints, glues, oven-cleaning products, etc).
It also gives effect to some provisions of Directives
on marketing and use of dangerous substances and preparations (in particular,
special labelling to warn of marketing restrictions on chemicals classified for
carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and reproductive toxicity).
CHIP 3 will:
· consolidate
CHIP - there have now been six amendments of the parent Regulations; there
have also been a number of amendments of CHIP introduced by other measures.
· implement the
requirements of the Dangerous Preparations Directive (1999/45/EC) - the DPD
is concerned with "the approximation of the laws, regulations and
administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the classification,
packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations". It was adopted by the
Council of Ministers in 1999 and replaces, consolidates and extends the scope
of the previous Dangerous Preparations Directive (88/379/EEC). Its main
innovations are:
- extension to preparations of the provision for
classification for environmental effects which already exists for
substances;
- extension of the classification, packaging and
labelling requirements to plant protection products and biocidal products which
are subject to Directives 91/414/EEC and 98/8/EC respectively;
- a requirement that Safety Data Sheets are to be
provided, on request, for non-classified preparations containing concentrations
of 1% or more of substances hazardous to health or the environment or assigned
a Community Exposure Limit; a 2nd amendment of the Safety Data Sheets
Directive (91/155/EEC), which is needed to enable this provision to be
implemented, is still under negotiation;
- special labelling of some preparations to draw
attention to the presence of substances which have a known sensitising effect
but which are not present in a high enough concentration to require
classification of the preparation as a sensitiser;
- extension to explosive and pyrotechnic
preparations of the requirements for classification and provision of
safety data sheets, which already apply to explosive and pyrotechnic
substances (labelling of these preparations remains subject to
international transport rules).
- a first adaptation to technical progress of
1999/45/EC is under negotiation; its purpose is to provide for;
- labelling of cement for skin sensitisation and to
make minor editorial changes needed to maintain coherence between the Dangerous
Preparations and Dangerous Substances Directives.
· Implement the 28th Adaptation to Technical
Progress of DSD 67/548/EEC; this is currently in preparation and is
expected to be put to a vote on 25 January 2001. Its main elements will be:
- about 500 additions and changes to the list of
mandatory classifications of substances named in Annex I of the Directive,
which will require a new edition of the CHIP Approved Supply List;
- revision of some of the labelling phrases, in
particular to require category 3 carcinogens to be labelled 'limited evidence
of a carcinogenic effect' which is felt to be more specific than the present
phrase, 'possible risk of irreversible effects';
- other amendments needed for coherence with the new
provisions of 1999/45/EC;
- improved criteria for corrosivity.
The idea is to use this opportunity to re-cast the
documentation in a more user-friendly form, and to review the supporting
guidance (in both paper and electronic forms).
European member states
have to bring their legislation giving effect to the Dangerous Preparations
Directive into force on 30 July 2002 - except for the extension of this
classification and labelling regime to biocides and plant protection products,
which is due to take effect on 30 July 2004. We have made a practice of
providing a transition period for CHIP and its amendments, to enable suppliers
to adapt to the new requirements before the due date, and we intend to bring
CHIP 3 into effect on this transitional basis during the spring of 2002.
For more information or
questions please contact peternorth@ctdocumentation.co.uk
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