ECHA Inspection: 35% of Safety Data Sheets fail to meet REACH and CLP Standards
Safety Data Sheet Compliance: A Persistent Challenge
A 35% of reviewed Safety Data Sheets fail to meet REACH and CLP Standards. A recent EU-wide enforcement project conducted by ECHA’s Enforcement Forum revealed that while significant progress has been made in improving safety data sheet (SDS) compliance, there’s still room for improvement. The project, involving inspectors from 28 EU/EEA countries, scrutinized over 2,500 SDS to assess their adherence to the new requirements introduced in 2023.
Key Findings:
- Non-compliance rate: A concerning 35% of the inspected SDS were found to be non-compliant, either due to incomplete information or outright absence.
- Supply chain compliance: The supply chain for SDS appears to be functioning effectively, with suppliers providing SDS to recipients in 96% of cases.
- New information requirements: Significant challenges were observed in providing information on nanoforms and endocrine-disrupting properties. 67% of SDS lacked information on nanoforms, and 48% were deficient in data on endocrine-disrupting properties.
- Data quality issues: A notable 27% of the SDS exhibited data quality issues, including inaccuracies in hazard identification, composition, and exposure control. Additionally, 18% of the SDS lacked the required exposure scenarios.
Enforcement Actions:
To address non-compliance, inspectors employed a range of enforcement actions, including:
- Written advice: The primary method used to inform companies of their non-compliance.
- Administrative orders: Formal orders requiring companies to take specific actions to rectify non-compliance.
- Fines: Financial penalties imposed on companies for serious or repeated violations.
- Criminal complaints: Legal actions taken against companies in cases of severe or deliberate non-compliance.
Improving SDS Compliance:
To further enhance SDS compliance, the following recommendations can be considered:
- Enhanced training and guidance: Providing clear and comprehensive guidance to industry on the new SDS requirements.
- Strengthened enforcement: Continued rigorous enforcement actions to deter non-compliance.
- Improved data quality: Encouraging companies to invest in high-quality data collection and analysis.
- Collaboration between authorities: Fostering cooperation between national authorities to share best practices and coordinate enforcement efforts.
- Increased awareness: Raising awareness among industry stakeholders about the importance of accurate and complete SDS.
By addressing these issues and implementing effective measures, it is possible to further improve the quality and consistency of SDS across the EU, thereby better protecting workers, consumers, and the environment.
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Source: ECHA
