What does P304 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P304?

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 used by Chemoris, P304 is not linked directly to a class; it is used as part of a combined statement or at the supplier's choice.

Combined statements containing this code

• P304+P340
• P304+P341

Neighbouring statements of the same kind

The statements closest in number to P304 in the response group:

• P301IF SWALLOWED:
• P302IF ON SKIN:
• P303IF ON SKIN (or hair):
• P305IF IN EYES:
• P306IF ON CLOTHING:
• P307IF exposed:

How is P304 read?

The text of P304 is 2 words long. The text only names the situation "IF INHALED"; the instruction itself is completed in the codes that combine with this statement (see the combined statements below).

Where is P304 written in the SDS?

In the SDS, P304 is written in Section 2.2 (label elements) with its code and the text "IF INHALED:". Being a response statement, it sits among the response lines. The statement should also agree with the first-aid measures in Section 4.

How does P304 appear on the label?

On the label P304 appears together with its text; under CLP Article 28(3) a label usually carries at most 6 precautionary statements. 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 P304 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 P304 assigned to?

Related assignment entries: 7 class/category entries, 4 different H statements. Priority split: core (priority 1) in 6 entries and secondary (priority 2) in 1 entries. Of these entries, 3 carry the signal word “Danger”, 2 carry “Warning” and 2 need no signal word. The pictograms that most often accompany it: GHS06 (3) and GHS07 (2).

The class families it appears in most often: Acute Tox. (4), Skin Corr. * (1), Resp. Sens. * (1) and STOT SE (1).

Classes that P304 is assigned to

P304 is not assigned to a class on its own; the combined statements it belongs to (P304+P340) are assigned to these classes:

Where does P304 stand in the response group?

P304 is number 4 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 P304 feed?

Because of its number and its response kind, P304 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 P304

• P304 is a part of the combined statements P304+P340, P304+P341; when a combined statement is selected, P304 is not repeated on the label.
• P304 should agree with Section 4; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 2 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P304 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 P304 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 P304 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