Webshops are now required to display safety information, how to be compliant

Did you know that EU regulation 1272/2008 from november 2024 now requires all webshops that sell any chemical substance to:

  • For end customers (B2C):
    Display the correct safety information for every product (substances and mixtures)
  • For business customers (B2B):
    Provide the correct SDS for each product

This information needs to be accurate and up to date at any time,
and fines can run up to a whopping € 103.000 per infringement ⚠️ (read: per product) without warning.
(source: REACH)

This is what that means for your webshop:

Webshop for consumers (B2C)

(B2B webshop instructions down below!)

For B2C webshops, there are 3 mandatory safety information blocks to display.
This information is required to be clearly and instantly visible, not obfuscated or hidden behind a modal window or file download, illustrated in the mockup in this article.

1. The Signal Word

The signal word in a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a mandatory hazard communication element used to indicate the level of severity of a chemical’s hazard. It is part of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and is required under EU Regulation 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation).

CLP compliance: Signal Word
Required information: Signal Word

The Two Signal Words in an SDS:

  1. “Danger” – Used for more severe hazards.
  2. “Warning” – Used for less severe hazards.

If a substance or mixture does not meet the criteria for a hazard classification requiring a signal word, then no signal word is assigned.

2 examples of signal words and hazard statements:

  • Signal Word: Danger
    • Hazard Statement: “Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.”
  • Signal Word: Warning
    • Hazard Statement: “May cause skin irritation.”

2. The Pictograms

Pictograms in an SDS are standardized symbols used to visually communicate hazards associated with a chemical or mixture. These pictograms are part of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and are required under EU Regulation 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation).

clp compliance: pictograms
Required information: pictograms

Example of Pictogram Use in an SDS (Section 2):

  • Signal Word: Danger
  • Pictograms: flame and skul & bones
  • Hazard Statements:
    • Highly flammable liquid and vapor.
    • Toxic if inhaled.

3. The Hazard Statements

Hazard Statements are standardized phrases that describe the nature and severity of a chemical’s hazards. These statements are part of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and are required under EU Regulation 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation).

Required information: Hazard Statements

Each hazard statement is assigned a unique H-code, which consists of:

  • The letter “H” (for Hazard)
  • A three-digit number indicating the hazard category

Examples of Common Hazard Statements

  • Physical Hazards:
    • H220 – Extremely flammable gas
    • H228 – Flammable solid
    • H280 – Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated
  • Health Hazards:
    • H302 – Harmful if swallowed
    • H315 – Causes skin irritation
    • H319 – Causes serious eye irritation
    • H332 – Harmful if inhaled
    • H350 – May cause cancer
  • Environmental Hazards:
    • H400 – Very toxic to aquatic life
    • H411 – Toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects

Webshops for businesses (B2B)

For B2B webshops selling any kind of chemical product, things get even more interesting:

You are required to offer the up to date and compliant safety data sheet (SDS) to any customer or potential customer that requests this information.

And equally important: If the original sheet gets an update, you are required to inform your customer of the update and provide them with the document.

How to get compliant easily

Getting and staying compliant with your CLP and SDS'es is a big, complex and tedious challenge.

We built NextSDS specifically to solve this monster of a problem by simplifying and streamlining your SDS management, saving you hundreds of manual hours every year, and preventing the significant legal repercussions of not being compliant.

  1. Organise your SDS library and keep it up to date automatically
  2. The required information is automatically extracted using powerful AI models
  3. Use our CLP Widget to easily display the correct safety information on all your product pages, or use our API to get the data directly
  4. For B2B webshops: use our white-labeled client portal to offer easy access to up to date safety data sheets for your business customers

💡 Schedule a free demo and brainstorming session →