CLP/GHS Classification: Software for Automatic Classification of Mixtures

The CLP Regulation and the GHS System in the European Union

The CLP Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 (Classification, Labeling, and Packaging) is the European regulation that implements the United Nations' GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals) in the European Union. ECHA provides technical and scientific support for its implementation. The CLP defines the criteria for:

• Classification — Assessment of the physical, health, and environmental hazards of chemical substances and mixtures
• Labeling — Communication of hazards through GHS pictograms, warnings, H (Hazard) statements, and P (Precautionary) statements
• Packaging — Specific requirements for the safe containment of hazardous substances

ECHA maintains the Classification and Labelling Inventory (C&L Inventory) and Table 3 of Annex VI containing binding harmonized classifications for thousands of substances.

kemXpro CLP Classification Engine

Automatic Hazard Classification Calculation

The kemXpro CLP classification engine implements all calculation methods required by the CLP Regulation for mixtures:

• Summation method — For health hazards (irritation, sensitization, STOT, reproductive toxicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity) and for aquatic environmental hazards
• Additivity method — For acute toxicity (ATE calculation of the mixture) and for aquatic toxicity when adequate data on the components are available
• Bridging principles — Dilution, batch, concentration, interpolation, substantially similar products, aerosols
• Experimental data — Possibility to override the calculation with specific test data on the mixture

The engine uses ECHA harmonized classifications (Table 3 Annex VI CLP) as a basis for component substances, supplementing them with self-notification data from the C&L Inventory when harmonized classification is not available.

GHS pictograms and CLP label generation

Based on the calculated classification, kemXpro automatically generates the complete CLP label with:

• GHS pictograms — The 9 hazard symbols (GHS01-GHS09) with the correct precedence rules
• Warning — "Danger" or "Caution" according to CLP precedence rules
• H-statements — All applicable hazard statements, including combined statements and EUH supplemental statements
• P phrases — Precautionary phrases selected according to the criteria of Annex IV CLP, with selection logic based on the hazard/P-statement matrix
• UFI code — Generation and printing of the Unique Formula Identifier for PCN notification to national poison centers via the ECHA portal
• Supplementary information — Supplier identification, nominal quantity, batch number

ATP — Adaptations to Technical Progress

The CLP Regulation is periodically updated through ATPs (Adaptations to Technical Progress) that modify harmonized classifications and classification criteria. kemXpro tracks all ATPs adopted by the European Commission and published in the EU Official Journal, and automatically updates:

• Harmonized classifications of substances (Annex VI Table 3)
• Specific concentration limits (SCLs)
• M-factors for environmental classification
• Harmonized Acute Toxicity Estimates (ATE)

Classification for Aquatic Environmental Hazards

kemXpro implements the complete classification of hazards to the aquatic environment according to Part 4 of Annex I CLP, with automatic calculation based on:

• Acute aquatic toxicity (LC50, EC50, ErC50)
• Chronic aquatic toxicity with M factors
• Degradability (rapid/non-rapid) and bioaccumulation (log Kow)
• Summation method with relevant components approach