What does H304 mean?

Categories and label elements

CLP abbreviation	Pictogram	Signal word
Asp. Tox. 1	GHS08Health hazard	Danger

Related precautionary statements (P codes)

The precautionary statements that CLP Annex IV assigns to this class. Not all of them go on the label: under CLP Article 28(3), no more than six precautionary statements appear on the label unless the nature and severity of the hazard require more; the selection depends on the product and its users.

When does a mixture need H304?

Whether a mixture needs H304 is calculated from the classes and concentrations of its components. The values in the rule file for this code are:

• Threshold method: a Asp. Tox. 1 component at ≥ 10 % gives the mixture the same class. (CLP Annex I 3.10.3.3.1, Table 3.10.2)
• If a component has a harmonised specific concentration limit (SCL) and meets it, the mixture takes the corresponding class directly.

For a step-by-step worked example see classifying a mixture under CLP.

Where is H304 written in the SDS?

H304 is tracked in three places of the SDS: the classification line in Section 2.1 ("Asp. Tox. 1"), the label elements in Section 2.2 and the component list in Section 3. Section 16 repeats the explanation of the code. In addition, it appears in Section 11 (toxicological information), under heading 11.1, as a "Classified" line when the class is among the classes of the mixture.

How does H304 appear on the label?

The label elements for H304 are: pictogram GHS08 (health hazard); it is written with the signal word "Danger". In the Chemoris template Section 2.2 carries at most 8 H statements; if the limit is exceeded the least severe ones are dropped and a warning is shown. For the bottom of the label, 4 P statements are candidates for this class in CLP Annex IV; under CLP Article 28 at most 6 of them are selected.

Where does it appear in the safety data sheet?

• Section 2.1: classification; the class abbreviation and H304 are given together.
• Section 2.2: label elements; H304 with its full text, pictogram and signal word.
• Section 3: composition table; in the row of every component that has this class.
• Section 16: the full text of the H statements cited as codes in earlier sections.

Class criteria and thresholds for H304

The values below come from the Chemoris rule file (CLP Annex I). They show the condition under which H304 arises in a mixture. For physical hazards and other classes that depend on test data, the result comes from the mixture's own measurement, not from component percentages.

H304 compared with H302 and H301

The table below puts H304 next to its closest neighbouring statements; the values are read from the rule data.

The signal word differs: Danger for H304, Warning for H302. The pictogram differs: GHS08 for H304, GHS07 for H302. H304 and H301 carry the same signal word (Danger). The pictogram differs: GHS08 for H304, GHS06 for H301.

H302 H301

In which SDS sections does H304 appear?

H304 does not stay only in the label section of an SDS; the class itself and the precautionary statements assigned to it shape the content of other sections too. The counts are calculated from the P statements that Annex IV assigns to this class.

Statements that appear on the label together with H304

H304 is never printed alone on a label; it sits next to the pictogram and the signal word. The Chemoris selection method (response, prevention, storage, disposal in that order; core statements first) gives these first 4 candidates for this class:

The GHS08 pictogram and “Danger” are printed together. This ranking applies because a label usually carries at most 6 statements; when a combined statement is selected, its parts are not printed again.

Official EU wording of H304 in other languages

When a product is exported to the EU, the SDS and label are expected in the official language of the Member State where it is placed on the market (REACH Article 31(5)). The table gives the official wording of H304 from the CLP Annex III/IV language versions published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Source: EUR-Lex CELEX 02008R1272-20260701.

Common mistakes with H304

• Writing unlimited H statements for a multi-class product: in the Chemoris template, Section 2.2 holds at most 8 H statements.

Next steps

To read a statement like H304 correctly on a label and in an SDS, see the guide How to read H and P codes; to pick the class and prepare the label automatically, use the free label tool.

Related hazard statements

Other H statements in the same hazard family as H304 (Asp. Tox.). The difference between categories mostly comes from the degree of severity.

• H300Fatal if swallowed.
• H301Toxic if swallowed.
• H302Harmful if swallowed.

Frequently asked questions