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EuPhraC – Standard Phrases for the Creation of More Detailed Safety Data Sheets

Every sector has it`s own language – as it is also in the chemical industry. The smooth functioning of hazardous substance transportation requires consistency and appropriacy of language. Since 1993 an expert group of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) has been working on standard phrases, templates and phrase recommendations that must be considered  while preparing Savety Data Sheets. The official continuation of the formal, independent and free available standard phrase catalogue is “EuPhraC“. The abbreviation stands for "European Phrase Catalogue" and stresses the importance of the content for the EU Countries. The aim of the new catalogue ist o improve the quality of information within the supply chain. Since 2010 EuPhraC has been supported by Business Europe (an European umbrella organisation of BDI) as well as by Cefic, and is constantly being developed with the help of an international workgroup comprising scientists, authority and industry representatives. Here, Qualisys participates as a technical and linguistic consultant.

EuPhraC Modules

The EuPhraC tree contains the most important and generic phrases for the preparation of Safety Data Sheets and offers transparent structure assignments. Since the introduction of EuPhraC the standard phrase catalouge has been supporting the extended safety data sheet according to REACH. However, because it is not relevant for all users, we distinguish the following major modules:

  • EuPhraC SDS Main Body: This is the complete former BDI catalogue and covers all needs of the REACH Safety Data Sheet without exposure scenarios.
  • EuPhraC ES: This module contains all enhencements for exposure scenarios including industrial sector’s new lists. Along with the common catalogue the module comprises all requirements for extended Safety Data Sheets.

EuPhraC Standards – Useful for Communication in the Supply Chain

EuPhraC is continuously monitored considering the current regulations and ATPs in accordance with CLP, REACH, UN GHS or EuPCS. The EuPhraC working group meets twice each year in Berlin. Thus, two new catalouge publications can be expected per annum. The current EuPhraC version contains new and clear phrase IDs that simplify the integration in software as well as the exchange of data. The so called “unique identifier“ make the difficulties due to arbitrary numbering a thing of the past. Thanks to the adjustment to the Cefic ESCom project EuPhraC also covers all exposure scenarios for the extended Safety Data Sheets according to REACH.Qualisys provides all EuPhraC standard phrases in their current version, and if requested, with phrase IDs or individually coded for your software.