GB mandatory chemical classification for importers
Identify the substance or each mixture ingredient, check HSE's current GB MCL list and apply the mandatory entries. Use listed ingredient classifications in mixture calculations unless robust scientific data on the mixture supports classification instead. Ask for factory composition records through Cambridge China Bridge.
Start with identity, not the product name
Ask the factory for the chemical identity, CAS identifiers, composition and current SDS. For a mixture, request ingredient concentrations and information on impurities and additives. Match the records to the actual grade and formulation you are buying. A trade name alone is a poor starting point for searching substance entries.
Classification is the supplier's responsibility, including importers, regardless of the amount supplied. This guide covers the mandatory-classification check; use our chemical intermediates guide for the separate sourcing and quality questions.
Use the current HSE list
Open HSE's GB mandatory classification and labelling page and download the list linked there. The list is legally binding in England, Scotland and Wales. For a listed substance, use its mandatory classification and labelling.
Search using the chemical name and identifiers together, then check that the entry describes the substance you are importing. Read the accompanying technical notes in the current list. Save the downloaded file and the relevant entry with your assessment, rather than relying on a supplier's old extract.
Check hazards outside the mandatory entry
A mandatory entry does not necessarily cover every hazard class. Substances with mandatory classifications must still be self-classified for hazard classes outside those entries. Substances without mandatory classifications also require self-classification; absence from the list is not a finding that the chemical is harmless.
Ask the person preparing the assessment to distinguish mandatory classifications from conclusions based on other available information. Keep the supporting data and reasons for those conclusions. Our UK REACH guide covers registration separately.
Carry ingredient entries into mixture calculations
Mixtures are self-classified. Where a mixture contains a listed substance, HSE says its mandatory classification must be used in the calculations, except where robust scientific data on the mixture itself can be used to classify it instead.
Build a working record linking each ingredient's identity and concentration to its classification and the resulting mixture assessment. Ask the assessor to show how each applicable entry and its notes were used. Do not simply copy an ingredient's hazard classification onto the finished mixture.
If the assessment relies on mixture data instead, ask for the study, the tested formulation and an explanation of which hazards the data address. Check that the tested product matches the imported formulation. Keep the explanation alongside the calculations.
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Resolve gaps before approving the order
Pause approval if ingredient identities are missing, concentrations conflict or the SDS describes a different formulation. Ask the factory to reconcile the documents and notify you before changing ingredients. Have the assessor review any change against the saved classification record.
Once the classification is settled, use our chemical label and packaging guide for artwork review. Our staff in China can request composition records and resolve document mismatches with the factory; agree who will prepare and review the classification assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Does GB chemical classification apply to small imports?
Yes. HSE says classification must be carried out regardless of the tonnage, volume or amount supplied. Obtain identity and composition records before assessing the import.
What if my substance is not on the GB MCL list?
It requires self-classification using available information and the classification criteria. Not appearing on the list does not establish that it is harmless.
Does a listed ingredient make my mixture hazardous?
Use the ingredient's mandatory classification in the mixture calculations. The mixture needs its own assessment; do not copy the ingredient classification directly.
Can mixture test data replace ingredient calculations?
HSE allows robust scientific data on the mixture itself to be used for classification instead. Ask the assessor to explain which hazards it supports and confirm the tested formulation matches your import.