Signal Word on the Label of a Chemical Product
CLP labels are a mandatory element of chemical product labelling within the European Union. One of the essential components of such a label is the signal word – a short phrase informing the user about the level of hazard. When should it be used, how should it be selected, and why should there only be one signal word on the label? You’ll find the answers below – along with references to the relevant provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP).
What is a signal word?
A signal word is a mandatory part of the label, in accordance with Articles 17 and 20 of the CLP Regulation. Its purpose is to indicate the level of hazard posed by a substance or mixture. This helps the user quickly assess how dangerous the product is.
The CLP Regulation provides for only two possible signal words:
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Danger – for products presenting a severe hazard,
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Warning – for products where the hazards are not as severe.
When to use a signal word?
According to Article 20(1) of the CLP Regulation, a signal word must appear on the label if the product is classified as hazardous. This applies to almost all hazard classes and categories, with a few minor exceptions.
The choice of the appropriate signal word depends on the assigned hazards and their categories. For each hazard class listed in Sections 2–5 of Annex I, the applicable signal word (if required) is indicated.
Examples:
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Carcinogenicity Category 1B (H350) → signal word: Danger
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Eye irritation Category 2 (H319) → signal word: Warning
Only one signal word
According to Article 20 of the CLP Regulation, if a mixture or substance is classified in more than one hazard category and different signal words are assigned to different hazard classes, only one signal word should appear on the label – the one corresponding to the most severe hazard.
“If the signal word ‘Danger’ appears on the label, the signal word ‘Warning’ shall not appear.”
This means that even if a product meets the criteria for several hazards (e.g. it is both an irritant and a carcinogen), only one signal word is used on the label – the one assigned to the more serious hazard.
The signal word must be translated
All information on the label – including the signal word – must be provided in the official language of the Member State where the product is placed on the market.
In practice, this means that:
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on the label of a product sold in Poland, the signal word must be: „Niebezpieczeństwo” or „Uwaga”,
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for products intended for multilingual markets (e.g. Poland, Czech Republic, Germany), the label should contain the appropriate translations for each of those countries.
What does this mean in practice?
✅ The signal word must be selected according to the classification of the mixture or substance – based on the provisions of Annex I of CLP.
✅ Only one signal word is placed on the label, corresponding to the most serious hazard.
✅ The signal word must be in the language of the country where the product is placed on the market.
Summary
The signal word may seem like a minor detail, but it is an essential element of a CLP-compliant label for a chemical product. It must be:
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correctly selected (in line with the classification),
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single (even in the case of multiple hazards),
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translated (according to the target market).
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