Glossary
Terms, without the jargon.
Short definitions of the terms that come up in EU product compliance: safety data sheets, CLP labelling, construction products, product safety and the digital product passport. Each entry names the provision it rests on and links the official text on EUR-Lex, with the date it was last checked.
B
- Battery passport
- The battery passport is the electronic record for LMT, EV and industrial batteries above 2 kWh, required from 18 February 2027.
C
- Candidate List
- The Candidate List names substances of very high concern (SVHC) that may later need authorisation and trigger information duties in the supply chain.
- CE marking
- The CE marking shows that the manufacturer declares the product compliant with the Union harmonisation legislation that applies to it.
- CLP Regulation
- The CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 governs the classification, labelling and packaging of hazardous substances and mixtures in the EU.
- Competent person (SDS)
- The competent person prepares the safety data sheet; under Annex II REACH, suppliers ensure that person receives appropriate training, including refresher training.
- Construction Products Regulation
- The Construction Products Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 has applied since 8 January 2026 and gradually replaces Regulation (EU) No 305/2011.
D
- Declaration of performance
- The declaration of performance is the manufacturer’s statement on the performance of a construction product and the basis for its CE marking.
- Declaration of performance and conformity
- The declaration of performance and conformity merges the declaration of performance and the declaration of conformity for construction products under Regulation (EU) 2024/3110.
- Digital label
- A digital label is a voluntary addition to the physical CLP label that provides label elements digitally through a data carrier.
- Digital product passport
- A digital product passport is a set of product-specific data, accessible electronically through a data carrier such as a QR code.
- Digital product passport registry
- The digital product passport registry, run by the Commission, stores the unique identifiers of passports, not their content.
- Downstream user
- A downstream user uses a substance or mixture in industrial or professional activities without manufacturing or importing it, for example a formulator.
E
- Economic operator
- An economic operator is a manufacturer, authorised representative, importer, distributor or fulfilment service provider with duties under EU product law.
- ESPR
- The ESPR, Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, sets ecodesign requirements for sustainable products and is the legal basis of the digital product passport.
- EU declaration of conformity
- In the EU declaration of conformity the manufacturer states that the product meets the requirements of the applicable Union harmonisation legislation.
- Exposure scenario
- An exposure scenario describes the conditions under which a substance can be used safely and is annexed to the safety data sheet.
G
- GHS
- GHS is the United Nations Globally Harmonised System for classifying and labelling chemicals, which the EU implements through the CLP Regulation.
- GPSR
- The GPSR, Regulation (EU) 2023/988, governs the safety of non-food consumer products and has applied since 13 December 2024.
- GS1 Digital Link
- GS1 Digital Link is a standard (ISO/IEC 18975) that writes a GTIN into a web address readable by both tills and smartphones.
- GTIN
- The GTIN, or Global Trade Item Number, is the worldwide unique number of a trade item, encoded in its barcode and often called EAN.
H
- Harmonised technical specification
- A harmonised technical specification sets, for a product family, which characteristics are declared and how they are assessed.
M
- Machinery Regulation
- The Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 applies from 20 January 2027 and allows instructions for use to be provided digitally.
- Market surveillance
- Market surveillance is the authorities’ control that products on the market comply with the applicable requirements, based on Regulation (EU) 2019/1020.
P
- PBT / vPvB
- PBT substances are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic; vPvB substances are very persistent and very bioaccumulative. Both need a safety data sheet.
- Poison centre notification (PCN)
- A poison centre notification sends information on a hazardous mixture to the appointed bodies, usually poison centres, so they can advise in an emergency.
- ProdSG
- The ProdSG is the German Product Safety Act, which complements the GPSR with national rules on authorities, language and fines.
- Proof of delivery
- A proof of delivery records, per recipient, which document in which version was sent and opened, and when.
R
- REACH
- REACH is the EU chemicals regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals.
- Recall notice
- A recall notice is the visible notice to consumers about a product recall; under the GPSR it carries the headline "Product safety recall".
- Responsible person (Art. 16 GPSR)
- The responsible person is the economic operator established in the EU who answers for a product under Art. 16 GPSR.
S
- Safety data sheet
- A safety data sheet describes, in sixteen sections, the hazards of a substance or mixture and how to handle it safely.
- Safety Gate
- Safety Gate is the EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products, through which authorities and the Commission publish alerts.
T
- Technical data sheet
- A technical data sheet describes the properties, application and storage of a product; no EU law requires one in general.
U
- UFI
- The UFI, or unique formula identifier, is a 16-character code that links a mixture to its poison centre notification.
V
- Version archive
- A version archive keeps every issued version of a document with its period of validity, so you can show what a customer received.