CLP, which implements in the EU the United Nations Globally Harmonised System (GHS) on the classification and labelling of chemicals, comes fully into force in June 2015. An amending directive with a transposition deadline of 1 June 2015 has been adopted which updates five health and safety directives, including the Safety Signs at Work Directive, to reflect CLP. In addition, consequential amendments to a range of domestic regulations to align them with CLP also need to be made. The amendments will replace references to the existing classification system and hazard warning symbols with CLP references and need to be made to relevant health and safety regulations in Great Britain by 1 June 2015.

The amendments are mainly technical changes to replace old references with the relevant new ones and are not intended to introduce new requirements. The worker protection directives affected are:

i) Safety Signs at Work Directive (SSWD) (92/58/EEC)

ii) Chemical Agents Directive (CAD) (98/24/EC)

iii) Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (CMD) (2004/37/EC)

iv) Pregnant Workers Directive (PWD) (92/85/EEC)

v) Protection of Young People at Work Directive (YPWD)(94/33/EC)

The Consutative Document can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd269.htm