1 Introductory explanation

Beginning on 01 June 2015, labelling in accordance with the new Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is mandatory. Therefore, we would like to extensively inform you about necessary changes in labelling in the catalogue.

2 Safety data sheets

In accordance with Article 31 of REACH regulation, safety data sheets are to be made available to the customer without being requested if substances and mixtures were classified as hazardous. The safety data sheet is to be given to the customer upon the first delivery of the substance / mixture at the latest. The law allows for the possibility to file and download the document as a PDF. As an additional value for the customer, the safety data sheet is always available for download along with the item data sheet on the item detail page.

Therefore, the filing of a safety data sheet is a MANDATORY REQUIREMENT in order to list products with hazardous substances subject to labelling on Mercateo.

You will find the technical implementation in the article Safety data sheets.

3 Product groups subject to labelling

You can determine whether a product must be labelled from the accompanying safety data sheet. As a rule, this affects all products that contain one or more hazardous substances. Due to the variety of products at Mercateo, the following product groups:

Construction foams,/li>
Adhesives,
Biocide products and
Plant protection products

have special requirements or limitations on labelling which will be explained in the following.

Statement on hazard recognition

It is not sufficient to simply label it in a PDF. There must be a clear indication for the customer. That means that every item that fulfils these criteria is to be labelled in such a way that the customer is aware of the hazard prior to ordering. The hazardousness has to be pointed out in the item description.
The item description must contain the following information:

Hazardous substance indication (GHS), not as an image, but as a tag in the electronic catalogue
Signal words
Hazard statements
Safety data sheet
Item data sheet
Precautionary sentences
Indication that each package includes disposable gloves and a
Statement for re-sellers and professional users

3.1 Biocide products

In order to list biocide products, it is mandatory to include a message in the long description that is easy to read and clearly distinguishable from the actual advertisement.

Biocide statement:

“Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.”

Please ensure that your items can be sent to the market for which they are intended!
In summary, the following information is mandatory:

Biocide statement,
Name of the product,
Active ingredient,
Product identification number (identification number of the Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin [German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health] (BAUA)),
Safety data sheet,
Labelling in accordance with GHS,
Statement on the use,
Information on the area of implementation,
Product images must match the product,
Manufacturer and
Prohibitions and limitations.

You can find a sample document for the correct listing of the biocide statement and further information in the following document: Sample document for GHS.

3.2 Plant protection products

Plant protection products are excluded from sale at Mercateo.

3.3 Additional information on the labelling of hazardous substances

You can find additional information at ECHA – the European Chemical Agency (https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/biocidal-products-regulation).

4 Requirements for the labelling of hazardous substances in the catalogue

4.1 How should the labelling take place?

You can find information on the labelling of individual items / mixtures / substances on the safety data sheet (SDS). Under point 2 (classification in accordance with Regulation (CE) 1272/2008), the labelling (hazard symbol) is to be displayed.

4.2 Possible display options

Pictograms as well as the signal words “Danger” (G) and “Warning” (A) are available for display. If you provide the labelling as follows in the catalogue, the display in the shop is automatically controlled.

Only the following values from the table are permitted:

Value CLP/GHS	Description of symbol
GHS02	Flame
GHS04	Gas cylinder
GHS05	Corrosion
GHS07	Exclamation mark
GHS08	Health hazard
GHS09	Environmental
None	Item does not contain any hazardous substances

All of these options can also be present in various combinations. It is not possible to use multiple elements; up to four symbols are permitted at the same time.

Articles with the values GHS01 (exploding bomb [explosive]), GHS03 (flame over circle [oxidising]) or GHS06 (skull and crossbones [severe toxic]) are excluded from sale by Mercateo and may not be offered.

The implementation of these pictograms and signal words in your catalogue will be explained later. Please use one of the two types named, so that correct display can be guaranteed. Other types of displays (e.g., via images or other / different tags) are not supported by Mercateo.

4.2.1 Element SPECIAL_TREATMENT_CLASS

The GHS labelling can be saved in BMEcat as follows, as the element „SPECIAL_TREATMENT_CLASS“ (ARTICLE_DETAILS area).

<SPECIAL_TREATMENT_CLASS type=”GHS”>GHS02</SPECIAL_TREATMENT_CLASS>
<SPECIAL_TREATMENT_CLASS type=”GHS”>GHS07</SPECIAL_TREATMENT_CLASS>
<SPECIAL_TREATMENT_CLASS type=”GHS”>GHS08</SPECIAL_TREATMENT_CLASS>
<SPECIAL_TREATMENT_CLASS type=”GHS”>GHS09</SPECIAL_TREATMENT_CLASS>
<SPECIAL_TREATMENT_CLASS type=”GHSSIGNAL”>G</SPECIAL_TREATMENT_CLASS>

Alternatively, the features are available to you.

4.2.2 Element FEATURE

As a feature, the GHS labelling is saved in the ARTICLE_FEATURES area.

<FEATURE>
<FNAME>GHS</FNAME>
<FVALUE>GHS02</FVALUE>
<FVALUE>GHS07</FVALUE>
<FVALUE>GHS08</FVALUE>
<FVALUE>GHS09</FVALUE>
</FEATURE>
<FEATURE>
<FNAME>GHSSIGNAL</FNAME>
<FVALUE>G</FVALUE>
</FEATURE>

4.2.3 Display of signal words:

The signal word is displayed by the “GHSSIGNAL” characteristic, where A = Achtung [Warning] and G = Gefahr [Danger]. If no signal word is to be placed for an item, this characteristic is also not used. The signal word can only use assigned once.

4.2.4 Implementation of hazard statements:

The hazard labelling of hazardous materials should be saved as a feature. By doing so, they are displayed on the shop page in a uniform layout. In catalogue tools based on Excel, they can be separated by a vertical bar (|).

<FEATURE>
<FNAME>Hazard statements</FNAME>
<FVALUE>H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour</FVALUE>
<FVALUE>H304 May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways</FVALUE>
<FVALUE>H315 Causes skin irritation</FVALUE>
</FEATURE>

Hazard statements:

H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour
H304 May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways
H315 Causes skin irritation

4.3 Implementation in catalogue tools based on Excel

Here, it is recommended to keep the hazardous substance indication above the item characteristics (ARTICLE_FEATURES or Fname + Fvalue). When using the Mercateo CSV catalogue tools or Sepia Converter, the characteristics are divided by a vertical bar (|).

5 Filing the safety data sheet

Data safety sheets are to be filed in BMEcat as follows. In doing so, it is particularly important to note the correct indication of the MIME_DESCR and MIME_PURPOSE fields.

<MIME>
<MIME_TYPE>application/pdf</MIME_TYPE>
<MIME_SOURCE>safetydatasheet.pdf</MIME_SOURCE>
<MIME_DESCR>Safety Data Sheet</MIME_DESCR>
<MIME_PURPOSE>safety_data_sheet</MIME_PURPOSE>
</MIME>