Complying with CLP when making or importing candles

Complying with CLP when making or importing candles

ID 22544 | 12.09.2024

ECHA August 2024

A company based in the EU/EEA who makes or imports candles (including wax melts) needs to be aware that they may have legal obligations under EU chemicals regulations, and they need to consider these obligations before they place the candles on the EU market. Candle products are chemical mixtures under the EU regulations REACH and CLP.

If a candle is classified as hazardous based on the CLP criteria (due to an added fragrance, for example), then the candle must comply with both the REACH Regulation as well as all the requirements of the CLP Regulations before it is placed on the market.

The classification of a candle will depend on the classification of the different ingredient substances that go into the product and their concentration in the final mixture. You should obtain information on the classification of each ingredient, including fragrance oils, from your suppliers (the suppliers of the ingredients if you are a candle maker or the non-EU supplier of the imported candle if you are an importer). The relevant information will be in Section 3 of the safety data sheet (SDS) provided by the supplier.

Candles are primarily made up of waxes which themselves are normally not classified in accordance with CLP. However, candles often contain additives for fragrance and colour, some of which may be hazardous. The most common hazardous property related to these additives is sensitisation, i.e., they may cause allergic reactions. Fragrance substances are often skin sensitisers, some might also be respiratory sensitisers. Candle dyes can also be classified as hazardous, but their concentration in the final candle mixture is normally very low, and therefore they are seldom relevant for the classification of the final mixture.

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Table of Contents

1. YOU MAKE OR IMPORT CANDLES - WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS?

2. IF YOUR CANDLE IS CLASSIFIED AS HAZARDOUS - HOW DO YOU KNOW?
2.1 Classification of the candle mixture
2.1.1 Sensitising substances
2.1.2 Other hazards

3. YOUR CANDLE MIXTURE IS HAZARDOUS – WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR LABELLING AND PACKAGING?

4. WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT CLP REQUIREMENTS?
4.1.1 Notification to Poison Centres
4.1.2 Notification to the Classification and Labelling Inventory

5. ARE THERE OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS TO CONSIDER?
5.1.1 Safety data sheets
5.1.2 Standards
5.1.3 Notification to the SCIP Database
5.1.4 REACH registration

6. WHERE CAN YOU GET MORE ADVICE?

Fonte: ECHA

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