Challenges and key updates in the 2024 Concawe classification and labelling report

Concawe Review 33.2 Special REACH Edition - Article 4

The 2024 edition of the Concawe classification and labelling report delivers a substantial update to the hazard classification and labelling recommendations for hydrocarbon substances in the European Economic Area. This new edition reflects critical scientific and regulatory advancements, including the incorporation of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/707 introducing new hazard classes and the latest Adaptations to Technical Progress (ATPs) to the classification, labelling and packaging regulation. Among the most notable updates is the addition of six new renewable UVCB (Unknown or Variable composition, Complex reaction products, or Biological materials) hydrocarbon substances, reflecting the growing role of renewable fuels in the energy transition. The report also implements substantial structural changes, such as the allocation of solvent naphtha as a stand-alone substance and the integration of MK1 diesel into the kerosenes category, enhancing the consistency in structural similarity. Furthermore, the 2024 edition introduces mutagenicity classifications for selected petroleum substances (Unrefined/Acid Treated Oils, Untreated Distillate Aromatic Extracts, Cracked Gas Oils and Heavy Fuel Oil Components), based on updated in vitro and in vivo data. Additionally, the report aligns with recent ATPs and updated ECHA guidance on the application of CLP criteria, ensuring harmonisation with the latest scientific and regulatory developments. These updates enable a more comprehensive evaluation of hazards, including those related to human health and environmental persistence, ultimately supporting robust risk management across the petroleum and fuels sectors supply chain.