Joint answer given by Mr Breton on behalf of the European Commission
2.9.2022
Under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP)[1] and Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)[2], a chemical substance means a chemical element and its compounds in the natural state or obtained by any manufacturing process.
As such, essential oils can be considered chemical substances under existing legislation, and this approach is not expected to change under the forthcoming revisions.
While the CLP revision will aim to complement existing hazard classes with new ones, as stated in the EU Chemical Strategy for Sustainability, the Commission does not intend to derive a classification of a multi-component (complex) substance, such as lavender oils, based on the exhaustive hazard identification of all its components.
The Commission plans to adopt its proposal for a revision of the CLP Regulation during the fourth quarter of 2022, and the REACH revision is currently scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.
In this context, the Commission will continue to meet and exchange with all relevant stakeholders about the possible impacts of the proposals, in particular for small and medium size enterprises.
- [1] Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006; https://eur‐lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1272/2022-03-01
- [2] Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC; https://eur‐lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1907/2022-05-01