§2.1.1 Harmonised classification of substances

Some substances are ‘officially’ classified by means of a formal decision at the EU level. These are referred to as ‘harmonised classifications’ and listed in Table 3 of Part 3 of Annex VI to the CLP Regulation. A harmonised classification provides information on the chemical classification and labelling of a substance: Hazard statement code The code assigned to the hazard class and category. For example a carcinogen could be ‘H350’ or ‘H351’. Hazard Class The nature of the hazard. For example a carcinogenic is ‘Carc.’ Hazard Category A sub-category of the hazard class that describes the severity of the hazard. For example a carcinogen could be ‘1A’. ‘1B’ or ‘2’. The hazard classes and categories presented in Table 3 of Part 3 of Annex VI to the CLP Regulation take legal precedence over all other sources of information on those hazard classes and categories, and they must be used for classification. Note that a harmonised classification may be incomplete where it only covers the hazard classes and categories listed. For information on terminology please refer to the ECHA CLP Guidance. Table 3 of Part 3 of Annex VI to the CLP Regulation is regularly updated by adaptations to technical progress (ATPs). It contains two types of harmonised classifications: — harmonised classifications for specific substances (such as e.g. ‘lead chromate’), and — harmonised group classifications (such as e.g. ‘lead compounds’). Harmonised classifications can be found in the Classification and Labelling (C&L) Inventory maintained by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) (cf. Section 2.1.3). In case a harmonised classification for a specific substance exists this classification should prevail over the harmonised group classifications.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-09-07