03 March 2025

Changes to CLP – how to approach it?

On December 10, 2024, significant changes to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures entered into force, which aim to improve the readability and accessibility of information on chemical labels.

New labelling requirements

To ensure better readability of labels, the following guidelines have been introduced:

Text colour: The text on the label must be printed in black on a white background.
Font type: A uniform, sans serif font that is easy to read should be used.
Line spacing: The minimum spacing between lines of text should be 120% of the font size to ensure adequate readability.
Minimum font size - depending on the volume of the packaging, the minimum font height is defined as follows:

Package volume	Minimum font height
≤ 0.5 litres	1.2 mm
> 0.5 l and ≤ 3 l	1.4 mm
> 3 l and ≤ 50 l	1.8 mm
> 50 litres	2.0 mm

Implementation dates for the changes

The new regulation entered into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU. However, its provisions will be implemented gradually - from 1 July 2026, certain changes to the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures will apply, and from 1 January 2027, further regulations will apply. In addition, transitional periods have been provided until 30 June 2026 and 31 December 2026, during which substances and mixtures may be classified and labelled in accordance with the amended Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.

Other changes

In addition to the changes in labelling, other important modifications have also been introduced:

Fold-out labels: The possibility of using fold-out labels for products with unusual shapes has been introduced, provided that the information is legible and transparent.
Label digitalisation: The concept of a digital label has been introduced, which allows for the delivery of certain labelling elements in digital form.
Advertising: The amendment tightens the regulations on advertising hazardous substances and mixtures. There is already a ban on using terms suggesting a lack of hazard, such as "safe", "non-toxic" or "environmentally friendly". However, the new regulations go a step further - they eliminate all ambiguities and introduce the obligation to clearly inform about hazards in every form of advertising, including online sales. This means that sellers will have to place clear warnings already at the stage of browsing the offer, e.g. in online stores. No more misleading descriptions - every advertisement must clearly indicate the potential risk associated with the product, and there is an obligation to clearly inform consumers about the risks before purchase, including providing pictograms, H phrases, P phrases, EUH phrases and a signal word.

Summary
Adjusting to the new regulations requires a thorough analysis of current products, labels and advertising materials. If you have doubts about how to implement changes in your company, it is worth using professional advice. I encourage you to take advantage of training and individual consultations that will help you adapt solutions to the new requirements. Together we will find the best solution for your company!