The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulation

1 Overview
2 Main Requirements
3 Scope and Application
4 Relationship to Later Legislation
5 Importance
6 Related articles on Designing Buildings
7 References

[edit] Overview

The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009 No. 716) came into force on 6 April 2009. Commonly referred to as CHIP 4, these Regulations set out how suppliers in Great Britain must classify, package and label dangerous substances and preparations before they are placed on the market. They were made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

The Regulations were implemented two key European Directives:

The Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC).
The Dangerous Preparations Directive (1999/45/EC).

Their aim was to ensure that hazards associated with chemicals were clearly identified and effectively communicated throughout the supply chain, helping to protect human health and the environment.

[edit] Main Requirements

The Regulations imposed duties on manufacturers, importers and distributors to ensure that chemical products were classified and labelled correctly before being supplied. Key provisions included:

Classification: Substances and preparations had to be classified according to their physical, health and environmental hazards, using standardised risk categories.
Packaging: Containers had to be robust, secure and designed to prevent leakage or accidental exposure during handling, storage and transport.
Labelling: Labels were required to include hazard symbols, indications of danger, risk (R) and safety (S) phrases, and supplier details, allowing users to identify hazards and take appropriate precautions.
Safety Data Sheets: Suppliers had to provide a safety data sheet (SDS) for hazardous substances and preparations, giving detailed information on safe handling, storage and emergency measures.
Information updates: Suppliers were obliged to update hazard information when new scientific or regulatory data became available.

[edit] Scope and Application

The CHIP 4 Regulations applied to the supply of chemicals within Great Britain, covering both industrial and consumer products. They did not apply to the transport of dangerous goods, which is governed by separate legislation.

Enforcement responsibilities were divided between the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), local authorities, and other competent bodies depending on the type of product and workplace.

[edit] Relationship to Later Legislation

Although the 2009 Regulations remain on the UK statute book and have not been formally repealed, most of their practical functions have since been superseded by the EU Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP), which introduced the Globally Harmonised System (GHS).

From 1 June 2015, CLP became the main legal framework for chemical classification and labelling in the UK. Following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the system continues to operate domestically under the GB CLP Regulation, managed by the HSE.

As a result, while the CHIP 4 Regulations remain legally extant, their requirements are largely historic, retained mainly for reference and for managing older products that may still fall under transitional provisions.

[edit] Importance

The 2009 CHIP Regulations were a key step in the development of chemical safety legislation in the UK. They:

Strengthened consistency and transparency in hazard communication.
Improved worker and consumer protection.
Provided a foundation for the later CLP framework that continues to govern chemical safety today.