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CHIP (or CHIPS): The (Chemicals Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations

Definition

CHIP - The Chemical (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations provide information on hazardous chemicals in Great Britain. These regulations are designed to comply with various European Union (EU) directives relating to the supply of dangerous chemicals. CHIP has been amended on a regular basis since it was first adopted as the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations in 1994. Therefore, one may see references to CHIP 96, 98, 99 etc. The latest version of CHIP revoked all previous versions, so rely only on the latest version of CHIP (currently 2009, also known as CHIP4) when planning your regulatory compliance. The CHIP regulations will gradually be replaced by the European Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (known as the CLP Regulation, (EC) No 1272/2008) which is the EU's implementation of the Globally Harmonised System on the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).

Selected sections of the U.S. Code are available in convenient e-book format at Safety Emporium.

Additional Info

CHIP4 (2009) no longer addresses Material Safety Data Sheets (SDS's); those regulations have become part of the European REACH regulation.

CHIP4 regulations require the supplier of a dangerous chemical to:

1. Identify the hazards (dangers) of the chemical. This process is called "classification".
2. Provide information about the hazards to their customers. This information is usually provided on the package/label.
3. Package the material safely.

CHIP also defines classes of danger for "substances and preparations dangerous for supply" and uses a letter coding system for these classes. You are likely to encounter these symbols on European MSDS's. In addition, labels and sheets in the EU carry required risk phrase and safety phrase codes. In our opinion, these coding systems are not only useless, but confusing - why write a crytic code such as "Xn" instead of simply stating "Harmful"? Regardless, here is a summary of the major classification codes:

Note: Some of the letters/symbols used in these tables are also used as TSCA, HMIS, and/or DoD HCC/HMIRS codes, all of which have completely different meanings and applications! See why we dislike code systems?

Physico-Chemical Properties1
Code Letter(s) & Meaning	Danger Symbol	Description
E Explosive		Solid, liquid, pasty or gelatinous substances and preparations which may react exothermically without atmospheric oxygen thereby quickly evolving gases, and which under defined test conditions detonate, quickly deflagrate or upon heating explode when partially confined.
F+ Extremely Flammable		Liquid substances and preparations having an extremely low flash point and a low boiling point and gaseous substances and preparations which are flammable in contact with air at ambient temperature and pressure.
F Highly Flammable		Substances and preparations which may become hot and finally catch fire in contact with air at ambient temperature without any application of energy, Solid substances and preparations which may readily catch fire after brief contact with a source of ignition and which continue to burn or to be consumed after removal of the source of ignition, Liquid substances and preparations having a very low flash point, or Substances and preparations which, in contact with water or damp air, evolve extremely flammable gases in dangerous quantities.
(none) Flammable	(no symbol)	Liquid substances and preparations having a low flash point.
O Oxidizing		Substances and preparations which give rise to a highly exothermic reaction in contact with other substances, particularly flammable substances.

Note: Some of the letters/symbols used in these tables are also used as TSCA, HMIS and/or DoD HMIRS codes, all of which have completely different meanings and applications! See why we dislike code systems?

Health Effects1 Note: Some symbols appear more than once in the following table. Please study the first column carefully.
Code Letter(s) & Meaning	Danger Symbol	Description
C Corrosive		Substances and preparations which may, on contact with living tissues, destroy them.
N Dangerous For The Environment		Substances and preparations which, were they to enter into the environment, would present or might present an immediate or delayed danger for one or more components of the environment. Does not apply to preparations. In certain cases, some substances do not need to be labelled with the danger symbol for this category.
T+ Very toxic		Substances and preparations which in very low quantities cause death or acute or chronic damage to health when inhaled, swallowed or absorbed via the skin.
T Toxic		Substances and preparations which in low quantities cause death or acute or chronic damage to health when inhaled, swallowed or absorbed via the skin.
Xi Irritant		Non-corrosive substances and preparations which, through immediate, prolonged or repeated contact with the skin or mucous membrane, may cause inflammation.
Xn Harmful		Substances and preparations which may cause death or acute or chronic damage to health when inhaled, swallowed or absorbed via the skin.
Sensitizing Xn Sensitizing by inhalation Xi Sensitizing by skin contact	(i.e. Xn or Xi)	Substances and preparations which, if they are inhaled or if they penetrate the skin, are capable of eliciting a reaction by hypersensitization such that on further exposure to the substance or preparation, characteristic adverse effects are produced.
Carcinogenic T - Category 1 1 T - Category 2 Xn - Category 3	(depends on category)	Substances and preparations which, if they are inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the skin, may induce cancer or increase its incidence
Mutagenic T - Category 1 1 T - Category 2 Xn - Category 3	(depends on category)	Substances and preparations which, if they are inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the skin, may induce inheritable genetic defects or increase their incidence.
Toxic for reproduction T - Category 1 1 T - Category 2 Xn - Category 3	(depends on category)	Substances and preparations which, if they are inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the skin, may produce or increase the incidence of non-inheritable adverse effects in the progeny and/or of male or female reproductive functions or capacity.

¹ See CHIP4 Schedule 1 for the formal classification/categorization system.


Books Available

• "Hazardous Chemicals: Control and Regulation in the European Market", Hardcover, 409 pages, 2007. Estimated price $129.09. Info and/or order.
• "Risk Assessment of Chemicals: An Introduction", Hardcover, 688 pages, 2007. Estimated price $157.99. Info and/or order.
• "Safety at Work, Seventh Edition", Hardcover, 1,056 pages, 2007. Estimated price $141.00. Info and/or order.
• "REACHing for Sustainable Development- Impact Assessment of the European Chemicals Framework", Paperback, 60 pages, 2007. Estimated price $54.00. Info and/or order.

MSDS Relevance

Under the current implementation, CHIP4 (2009), the laws that require a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) were transferred to the European REACH regulation. REACH regulations still require an SDS to be provided the first time the chemical is supplied or if the composition of the material changes so that new information has to be included. The now obsolete CHIP3 (2002) specifically addressed safety data sheets in the following areas: The supplier of a hazardous substance must supply the recipient with a safety data sheet containing certain specific information (see link below for a full explanation) The supplier must keep the safety data sheet up to date and revise it when any significant new information becomes available regarding safety, health or the environment. Safety data sheets must be provided free of charge with shipments. If the sheet is revised, anyone who received the substance in the previous 12 months should be notified. Safety data sheets are not intended for consumer use as long as sufficient safety/use data is available with the product. Sheets must be in English. If used in an EU member state, the sheet may be in an official language of that state.

Label your hazardous materials with signs and labels from Safety Emporium.

Further Reading

• The full text of The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2009 (CHIP4) for England, Wales and Scotland as well as Northern Ireland.
• The full texts of the obsolete CHIP3 (2002) and CHIP2 (1994) are also available.
• Idiots Guide To CHIP (486 Kb PDF download) from the U.K.'s HSE.
• CHIP - Protection by Information, also at the HSE.
• Export and import of dangerous chemicals (PIC) at HSE gives an excellent summary of the regulations for the import/export of hazardous chemicals in the EU.

See also: COSHH, HMIS, NFPA, REACH, TSCA, The MSDS FAQ entry on European MSDS requirements.

Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is believed to be true and accurate, however ILPI makes no guarantees concerning the veracity of any statement. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. ILPI strongly encourages the reader to consult the appropriate local, state and federal agencies concerning the matters discussed herein.