The UK chemical industry is a major producer of products for everyday use in households, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing and construction. The industry has to comply with strict legislation and regulations to ensure safety.
For example, to avoid damage or incidents involving hazardous substances at work or during transport, the European Union (EU) has adopted the CLP Regulation. This law applies to substances that are considered carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR). These particular chemicals are classified in different categories depending on their properties. The regulation lists these hazards and lists the corresponding requirements for labelling containers with certain statements – statements of compatibility with other materials used in work activities among others.
The EU also regulates the supply of chemicals by distinguishing between substances that can be sold without restriction (e.g.