GB Mandatory Classification and Labelling Updated in June 2024

By Susana Planas MunGavin BSc., MSc, Senior Regulatory Specialist, Supply Chain team, UL Solutions

On June 26, 2024, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released the Fifth Edition of the Great Britain Mandatory Classification List (GB MCL) based on the 14th and 15th Adaptations to Technical Progress (ATP) of the EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (EU) No. 1272/2008 (EU CLP). The update relates to 88 chemical substances approved under the Ministerial Decision of June 2024 published by the HSE.

Since January 1, 2021, the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is regulated by the ‘Retained CLP Regulation (EU) No. 1272/2008 as amended for Great Britain’, known as GB CLP.

The EU CLP Regulation was retained in GB law with modifications to address deficiencies arising from the UK's withdrawal from the EU, the Withdrawal Agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol. Both the 14th and the 15th ATPs were published by the European Commission and came into force before the end of the transition period of Brexit on January 31, 2020. However, although they had been added to the GB MCL List, there was no legal effect as they had not been formally incorporated into GB Law. Hence, the HSE, as the GB CLP Agency of the UK, has resorted to do so under the legal procedures provided under Article 37 of the GB CLP Regulation to update the GB MCL List and maintain the mandatory classification and labelling requirements that the UK agreed on while it was an EU Member State.

The Ministerial Decision addresses a total of 88 substances, 62 had mandatory classification and labelling provisions consistent with the 14th and 15th ATPs, while 26 of them have been revised and published in the Fifth Edition of the GB MCL List.

Other changes made include the deletion of two entries, Titanium dioxide (CAS No. 13463-67-7) in powder, no longer classified as Carcinogenic and Copper, granulated (CAS No. 7440-50-8), no longer classified as Aquatic Chronic 2, following the identification of additional information that requires assessment under the Article 37A process.

Also, a number of reported errors have been corrected in the GB MCL List, such as editorial issues and transcription errors. The entry of Propylbenzene (CAS No. 103-65-1) was restored and the entry for N,N-Dimethyl-p-toluidine (CAS No. 99-97-8) was amended by adding the notes of “dusts or” to inhalation Acute Toxicity Estimates (ATE).

Recommended action items

• Review the GB MCL List and assess whether any substances are being used or handled at the workplace
• Review the need to update associated substance classification and labelling based on the Ministerial Decision of June 2024
• Implement the updated mandatory classification and labelling for listed substances under the GB MCL List

References

Ministerial Decision of June 2024 published by the HSE on 88 chemical substances from the 14th and 15th Adaptations to Technical Progress to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008

The full GB MCL List 5th Edition

Table of Ministerial Decisions on new or revised GB MCL, including GB MCL Technical Reports, Agency Opinions and Decisions