What does P303+P361+P353 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P303+P361+P353?

Response statements (P3xx) say what to do after an accident, spill, fire or exposure: first-aid steps, rinsing and washing, calling a doctor or a poison centre, choosing the extinguishing medium. They usually open with a situation such as IF IN EYES or IF INHALED.

Which hazards is it used for?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P303+P361+P353 is assigned to the classes of these hazard statements:

• H224Extremely flammable liquid and vapour.
• H225Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
• H226Flammable liquid and vapour.
• H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.

Parts of the combined statement

• P303
• P361
• P353

How many hazard statements is P303+P361+P353 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P303+P361+P353 is provided for the classes of 4 H statements in total: 3 physical hazard statements and 1 health hazard statement. The lowest-numbered example is H224 and the highest-numbered is H314. Whether a mixture label carries this statement depends on those classes really applying to the mixture.

Neighbouring statements of the same kind

The statements closest in number to P303+P361+P353 in the response group:

• P301+P330+P331IF SWALLOWED: Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting.
• P302+P335+P334IF ON SKIN: Brush off loose particles from skin. Immerse in cool water [or wrap in wet bandages].
• P305+P351+P338IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
• P370+P380+P375In case of fire: Evacuate area. Fight fire remotely due to the risk of explosion.
• P371+P380+P375In case of major fire and large quantities: Evacuate area. Fight fire remotely due to the risk of explosion.

How is P303+P361+P353 read?

The length of P303+P361+P353 is 17 words. The text opens with the situation "IF ON SKIN (or hair)"; the instruction applies only when that situation occurs. The part in square brackets is specific to the product or the manufacturer and is completed with the relevant detail. Because it is a combined statement, it replaces 3 separate statements in a single line; the parts are listed below.

Where is P303+P361+P353 written in the SDS?

When you prepare an SDS, P303+P361+P353 goes into Section 2.2; options in the text (slashes or square brackets) are narrowed down to the product before it is written. The statement should also agree with the first-aid measures in Section 4.

How does P303+P361+P353 appear on the label?

The classes and the use of the product decide whether it reaches the label; not all candidates are written, at most 6 statements remain. In the Chemoris selection method, response statements are considered in position 1. If the core statements exceed 6, Article 28(3) allows up to 8; when a combined statement is chosen, its individual parts are not repeated on the label. As P303+P361+P353 is on the list of precautionary statements of Annex IV, it can be used in current labels and SDSs; Chemoris writes it into the document only when the relevant response candidate is selected.

Which classes and which priority is P303+P361+P353 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P303+P361+P353 appears in 4 class/category entries (1 different H statements). Priority split: core (priority 1) in 4 entries. Of these entries, 2 carry the signal word “Danger”, 1 carry “Warning” and 1 need no signal word. The pictograms that most often accompany it: GHS02 (3).

The class families it appears in most often: Flam. Liq. (3) and Skin Corr. * (1).

Classes that P303+P361+P353 is assigned to

The first 4 rows of 4 entries in the CLP Annex IV assignment table (by priority and hazard order):

Statements assigned together with P303+P361+P353

The precautionary statements that most often appear with P303+P361+P353 in the same class entries (with entry count):

• P303+P361+P353IF ON SKIN (or hair): Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water [or shower]. (4)
• P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. (4)
• P501Dispose of contents/container to … (4)
• P370+P378In case of fire: Use… to extinguish. (3)
• P210Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking. (3)

Where does P303+P361+P353 stand in the response group?

P303+P361+P353 is number 78 of the 82 statements in the P3xx group. The group holds 30 combined and 11 withdrawn statements and 46 single valid statements. Combined statements merge several situations on one line; withdrawn statements are replaced by their current equivalents.

Which SDS section does P303+P361+P353 feed?

Because of its number and its response kind, P303+P361+P353 relates to Section 4 First aid of the SDS; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text. Statements in the same number range feed the same section.

Checklist when writing P303+P361+P353

• The part in square brackets is specific to the manufacturer or product and is not left unfilled.
• P303+P361+P353 should agree with Section 4; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 17 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P303+P361+P353 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 P303+P361+P353 from the CLP Annex III/IV language versions published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Source: EUR-Lex CELEX 02008R1272-20260701.

Next steps

To read a statement like P303+P361+P353 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.

Where does it appear in the safety data sheet?

Precautionary statements are given with their code and full text in Section 2.2 (label elements) of the safety data sheet. Alternatives separated by a slash or in square brackets (e.g. gloves/protective clothing) are narrowed down to suit the product.

Frequently asked questions