As a manufacturer or marketer, you should observe the following laws and regulations for the labeling of your products:
• Labeling and declaration of the ingredients used (VdL guideline 01)
In its VdL Guideline 01, the Association of the German Paint and Printing Ink Industry (VdL) mandates the declaration of paints, lacquers, glazes, plasters, and fillers as well as related products in technical data sheets for both interior and exterior use. The guideline focuses on both the labeling of ingredients for ready-to-use products and the avoidance of adverse health effects as early as the product development stage.
• Hazard statements (CLP Regulation/GHS Regulation)
The European CLP Regulation regulates the classification, labeling and packaging of chemical substances and mixtures. Dangerous substances and mixtures, such as solvents or construction chemicals, must comply with the CLP Regulation in Europe since 1. June 2015 and should be labeled accordingly. The CLP pictograms are diamond-shaped and contain a black symbol with a red frame. With the CLP Regulation, the European Union has implemented the recommendations of the United Nations on the so-called Globally Harmonized System (GHS), which harmonizes the classification, labeling and packaging of chemicals worldwide.
• Solvent-based paints and lacquers regulation (ChemVOCFarbV)
ChemVOCFarbV is applicable to certain products, such as paints and lacquers used to coat buildings, their components and decorative elements, as well as refinish vehicles. The regulation stipulates that these products must be labeled with the following VOC content information before they are placed on the market:
a) the category of the ready-to-use product and the corresponding limit values for
volatile organic compounds (VOC)
b) the maximum volatile organic compound (VOC) g/l content of the ready-to-use product.