Transport and CLP

There are three areas of “overlap” between Transport and CLP:

• They cover many of the same hazards, tested using the same criteria with the same thresholds, so many classifications are equivalent
• Some packages have to be labelled for both systems
• Transport information is required on the SDS in Section 14

Hazards and their classification in Transport and CLP

Many of the hazards in CLP are directly equivalent to those in Transport, as much of GHS has been taken from Transport.

Transport users are only likely to be exposed to hazardous chemicals during an incident, so Transport does not include lower levels of harm such as irritancy, corrosive to eyes, or low-level toxicity hazards.

Transport is also concerned with non-chemical hazards, and includes biological hazards and radioactivity hazards, which are both outside the scope of CLP.

Comparison of hazards between Transport and CLP: Comparison of equivalent CLP hazards and Transport hazards v1.2 09-05-2017 . Note that Transport has its own version of “Harmonised Classifications”, which are called the Dangerous Goods List, so labelling may not be directly equivalent between the two systems.  Please do not use this table to translate from CLP to Transport or vice versa.

There are several hazards which are not covered in CLP but exist in Transport, including Infectious Materials, Radioactive Hazards, and Elevated Temperature substances: Transport hazards not included in CLP-GHS v1.1 18-01-2018 .

There are also similar hazards which do not have exact parallels between Transport and CLP, see: Non-equivalent hazards in CLP and Transport systems .

Labels in Transport and CLP

Many chemicals which are classified for CLP are transported in packages or multiple packages which are also be classified and labelled for Transport. (Bulk chemicals are only labelled for Transport, but also require CLP classification to go on their Safety Data Sheets).

It is possible to have dual CLP/ Transport labels for larger packages.  Where there is dual CLP and Transport labelling, it is possible for CLP symbols which repeat the hazards of Transport symbols to be omitted.

It is important to recognise the differences between Transport and CLP labelling, to make sure that you have the correct labels on the correct packaging sizes.

Recognising the differences between CLP and Transport labels: Differences between transport and CLP labels v1.0 14-03-2017.

There is more information on labelling packages for both Supply and Transport here https://ttenvironmenta.wpengine.com/clp-knowledgebase/packages-requiring-clp-labels/.

Transport information on the SDS

Transport classification information is required in Section 14 of the Safety Data Sheet, including information on the overall transport classification, and whether a product is a marine pollutant or not.  For more information, see https://ttenvironmenta.wpengine.com/clp-knowledgebase/section-14-of-the-sds/ .