{"id":3459,"date":"2026-06-09T15:13:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T15:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mccaa.org.mt\/?post_type=trd-sub-page&p=3459"},"modified":"2026-07-23T09:35:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T07:35:24","slug":"understanding-chemical-labels","status":"publish","type":"trd-sub-page","link":"https:\/\/mccaa.org.mt\/mt\/trd-sub-page\/understanding-chemical-labels\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Chemical Labels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What You Need To Know To Ensure Safe Use Of Detergent, Cleaning And Maintenance Products<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detergent, cleaning and maintenance products are used every day and everywhere, in homes, industrial and institutional domains, such as schools, hospitals, factories etc. They serve to remove all kinds of dirt from clothing and other articles, ensure hygiene and promote health and well-being.  If these products are used incorrectly, they can lead to accidents, so it is very important to read the label and understand the pictograms (symbols) and information printed on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New regulatory safety information will soon be appearing on chemical mixtures, including household cleaning products.  The changes are coming gradually so that, for a while, both the old and new symbols will be present.  By 2017, all product labels will have to carry the new pictograms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Pictograms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The well-known black and orange hazard symbols and the accompanying statements provide guidance to identify whether the products are classified as corrosive, toxic, oxidising, highly or extremely flammable, harmful, irritant, or dangerous for the environment.  The new hazard pictograms are quite similar to the old ones except for the different shape and colour, which is a black symbol on a white background with a red frame square set at a point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two completely new pictograms, which are both related to human health hazard, which may be present on the label of detergent, cleaning and maintenance products.  The \u2018exclamation mark\u2019 pictogram indicates health hazards like skin irritation or sensitisation, serious eye irritation, or that a product could be harmful if swallowed.  The \u2018health hazard\u2019 pictogram indicates more severe health hazards.  These new pictograms can be seen instead of the old St. Andrew\u2019s cross symbol, which is being phased out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To view New CLP Pictograms <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Wording<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pictograms are accompanied by signal words, hazard and precautionary statements.   The signal word indicates the relative level of severity of the particular hazard of the product.  On the label, the signal word \u2018danger\u2019 will be seen if the product has severe hazards, while for products with less severe hazards, the word \u2018warning\u2019 will be present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signal words are followed by one or more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazard Statements (e.g. \u201cHarmful if swallowed\u201d,<\/em> \u201cMay cause respiratory irritation\u201d,<\/em> etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Precautionary Statements (e.g. \u201cKeep out of reach of children\u201d,<\/em> \u201cDo not handle until all safety precautions have been read and<\/em> understood\u201d,<\/em> etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This information provides safety advice to help prevent or minimise adverse effects to human health or the environment arising from the hazards of the product one intends to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For chemical products bought in Malta and Gozo, this information will be available in English and\/or Maltese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the Label!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemical products have information about safely using the product \u2013 it is important to read carefully and follow this advice.  Any hazards present are indicated by pictograms and statements while the relevant precautions, like wearing gloves or eye protection, are listed on the label.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To view an example of a label of a cleaning product according to the CLP Regulation (EC) No. 1272\/2008<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact Us<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need further information or assistance?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feel free to send us an email – rad@mccaa.org.mt<\/a> or give us a call at +356 23952000.<\/p>\n\n\n

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What You Need To Know To Ensure Safe Use Of Detergent, Cleaning And Maintenance Products Detergent, cleaning and maintenance products…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3459","trd-sub-page","type-trd-sub-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mccaa.org.mt\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/trd-sub-page\/3459","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mccaa.org.mt\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/trd-sub-page"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mccaa.org.mt\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/trd-sub-page"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/mccaa.org.mt\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/trd-sub-page\/3459\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5690,"href":"https:\/\/mccaa.org.mt\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/trd-sub-page\/3459\/revisions\/5690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mccaa.org.mt\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}