The European Chemicals Agency will launch inspections in 2026 to ensure hazardous mixtures comply with updated EU CLP rules, including new labelling and refill station requirements. The plan was a key topic at the recent ESMA Health, Safety and Environmental Protection Committee meeting. Elaine Campling, the Committee’s chair, reports.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Enforcement Forum has decided on the scope of the latest enforcement project, which will focus on checking compliance of hazardous mixtures in line with the European Union (EU) CLP Regulation. The CLP Regulation, (EC) No. 1272/2008, is the legislation that sets out the rules for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures.
The objective of the enforcement project is to enforce legal requirements to classify, label and package hazardous mixtures. Inspectors will focus on checking mixtures, including mixtures in products against the legal requirements.
Inspectors will also check compliance with the requirements of the latest revision to the CLP Regulation that come into force in 2026, in accordance with Regulation EU No. 2024/2865. ECHA report potential checks on new requirements for fold-out labels, digital labelling, and supply of mixtures at refill stations. The manual for inspectors is currently being developed, and inspections are expected to start in 2026.
The Enforcement Forum and Biocides subgroup, comprise a network of enforcement authorities from the European Union and European Economic Area. They are responsible for coordinating the enforcement of EU REACH, Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals, the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU No. 528/2012), as well as CLP and other legislation under the remit of ECHA.
The Enforcement Forum also discussed future work on analytical methods to support inspectors and stakeholders, as well as the impact of the latest CLP revision on enforcement.
ESMA members could be targeted for compliance checks.
The latest revision to the EU CLP Regulation was discussed at length at the recent ESMA Health, Safety and Environmental Protection meeting, as well as impacts from other aspects of REACH and the Biocidal Products Regulation. Key ESMA Position Statements were agreed at the meeting, along with compliance strategies. Two guest speakers presented on global controls of PFAS and the new EU Packaging Regulation.
Please join us at the next committee meeting in autumn 2025 for discussions on REACH, CLP, Digital Product Passport, EU Green Deal, and other important topics.
Check next meeting dates at www.esma.com/committees/hsep
