On 20 May 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced the official launch of its newly upgraded Classification and Labelling (C&L) Inventory in the ECHA CHEM database. This update aims to enhance the accessibility and transparency of classification information for users and to lay the foundation for future data expansion.
Database Upgrade Highlights
The upgraded C&L Inventory includes over 4,400 harmonised classifications at the EU level and approximately 7 million classifications notified or included in REACH registrations. Overall, the inventory covers relevant data for about 350,000 substances.
Integrating classification and labelling information into the ECHA CHEM database represents a significant advancement since the initial release of the database in January 2024. The previous database contained over 100,000 REACH registration dossiers submitted by companies. The new C&L Inventory is designed to help users easily find the most consistent classifications and to clarify the sources behind the classification information. It incorporates recent regulatory developments, such as new CLP hazard categories, and has been built with stability and scalability in mind.
Official Statements
Promoting Chemical Transparency Mercedes Vinyals, Head of ECHA's Submission and Interaction Unit, stated: "This is an important milestone in the further development of a comprehensive database covering all chemical data collected by ECHA. The redesigned C&L Inventory features an enhanced user interface, simplifying the process for users to access classification information." Mike Larsen Berg, Head of the Hazard Assessment Unit, added: "Hazard classification is fundamental to chemical regulatory risk management. The redesigned C&L Inventory improves clarity on current and upcoming mandatory classifications harmonised at the EU level, helping companies prepare and implement the necessary safety measures."
Future Plans
As the EU's largest chemical database, ECHA CHEM continues to integrate data submitted by companies and information generated by regulatory activities to enhance public access to chemical safety information.Next, ECHA plans to add an overview of chemical regulatory activities (such as REACH restriction decisions) to the database to further deepen the transparency process.
Further Information
