The advisory list for selfclassification of dangerous substances

Lack of data on hazardous properties of chemicals makes it difficult for companies to meet their obligations to self classify the chemicals they import or produce. To address this issue, The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DK-EPA) publishes two lists for self classification of chemical substances” – with advisory classifications of more than 30,000 substances.

Since the new regulation for classification and labelling (the CLP-regulation) came into force, the regulation is in a transitional phase until 2015 where both regulations still are relevant in certain situations. Therefore both regulations are covered.

How to use the list
The advisory classifications  are based on predictions of dangerous properties of chemicals from computer models - the so-called (Q)SARs - which has a built-in uncertainty. Statistical methods estimate that the proposals are correct in approx. 80% of the cases. Therefore, in relation to self-classification of chemicals, the Danish Environmental Agency recommends that:

• If a substance has an EU-harmonised classification, then this harmonised classification must be followed and the advisory classification should be neglected. 
• All reliable information (test data and other types of information) must be considered together with the advisory classifications using a weight of evidence based approach.
• In those cases where no reliable information is available for a substance, the advisory classification can be used alone.
  It is further strongly recommended to read the additional information on self-classification and the advisory lists carefully before using the list (see below).

Search the advisory list for self classification of chemical substances.

• Database where you can search the list of advisory CLP-classifications.
  
  Excel sheet with advisory CLP-classifications
  
• Database with advisory classifications according to the old regulation
  
  Excel-sheet with with advisory classifications according to the old regulation.

Additional information on self-classification and the advisory list
The link below gives access to more specific information on how the advisory list should be used and also further about the regulatory background for using the advisory list.

More background information on the advisory list

Background reports
Two background reports have been published. The first describe the list which is based on the old regulation for classification and labelling and contain further the technical description of the methods used. It further gives a detailed explanation of how the list should be used. The second background report describes only the necessary changes made to prepare the CLP-version of the advisory list.

Environmental project 1322, 2010
Environmental project 1350, 2010 (CLP-version)

Access to more information on the substances
Manufacturers or importers of chemicals have the opportunity to disseminate their own documentation, which they use for self-classification of substances that are on the advisory list.

Access to supplementary information