The Italian Helpdesk under the Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 (CLP): three-year activity and experience (2009-2011)

INTRODUCTION: The Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP) sets further obligations for manufacturers, importers, distributors, downstream users of substances either on their own or in mixtures. According to the European mandate, each Member State has constituted its National Helpdesk to provide advice to the interested parties on their duties under this Regulation. In Italy, the contact point for questions has been established at the National Centre for Chemical Substances of the Istituto Superiore di Sanita. FUNCTIONS: The responders of the Italian CLP Helpdesk process the requests that have been submitted by the dedicated website. Applicants are asked to complete the form with all the required information. The Helpdesk staff also take part in the European network of CLP, REACH and ECHA Helpdesks together with the European Commission and other parties, that is the HelpNet. RESULTS: The present paper describes the results of the three-year activity of the Italian CLP Helpdesk (2009-2011).