If you’ve ever struggled to find clear and consistent information on the classification and labelling of chemicals, you’re not alone. But there’s good news: the newly updated Classification and Labelling (C&L) Inventory on ECHA CHEM has been given a serious upgrade – and it’s going to make life much easier!
Classification Chaos to Clarity: What’s Changed?
The old C&L Inventory included all classification notifications submitted by industry, regardless of consistency or quality. This often made it difficult to distinguish between harmonised classifications and divergent self-classifications – leaving users to sift through conflicting data.
Now, the revamped C&L Inventory on ECHA CHEM brings structure and transparency, by clearly separating data by source and regulatory priority.
Harmonised Classifications (CLP Annex VI)
At the top of the hierarchy, you’ll find official CLP Annex VI entries – these are minimum, mandatory, legally binding classifications agreed by the EU and published through ATP (Adaptations to Technical Progress). For each harmonised classification, you can view:
Current and upcoming classification versions (with application dates)
Subsections for:
Classification
Labelling
Specific Concentration Limits (SCLs)
M-factors
Acute Toxicity Estimates (ATEs)
Industry Self-Classifications: Now Better Organised
Self-classifications are now grouped and ranked by the percentage of notifiers in agreement – making it easy to spot the most common classification for a substance. These are displayed in two tiers:
Registrants' Entries (‘REACH Joint’): Submitted alongside a REACH registration dossier, often agreed within SIEFs or consortia.
Other Notifiers (‘CLP Submission’): Standalone submissions not linked to REACH registration.
This clarity allows users to more confidently interpret the level of consensus across industry for a given classification.
Cleaner Interface, Smarter Navigation
The new interface prioritises usability:
Dropdowns group similar entries for easier comparison.
Links are provided for further explanation, helping beginners navigate the system – while keeping the main view focused for experienced users.
A Massive Data Resource – Now More Accessible
The updated inventory includes:
Over 4,400 harmonised classifications
More than 7 million industry notifications
Data on 350,000 substances
Making this a comprehensive and user-friendly chemical classification tool.
What’s Next for ECHA’s C&L Inventory?
ECHA has signalled several ongoing improvements, including:
Expansion of grouped CLH entries into individual substances (e.g. lead compounds)
Integration of harmonised and self-classification data where relevant
Improved cross-referencing for non-harmonised hazard classes
These changes will enhance both regulatory compliance and substance comparison for companies managing large portfolios.
Faster & Better-Informed Regulatory Decision Making
Whether you’re a regulatory specialist, a safety data sheet author, or just someone trying to make sense of chemical hazards, the new ECHA C&L Inventory offers a much-needed improvement in transparency and usability.
At Blue Frog, we’re already using the new database to help our clients make faster, more informed regulatory decisions – especially where harmonised classifications, M-factors, or SCLs play a role in product classification and labelling.
If you need help navigating the new C&L Inventory, interpreting classification conflicts, or preparing your REACH dossier with confidence, get in touch and one of our regulatory consultants will be ready to help.
