What does P308+P313 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P308+P313?

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, P308+P313 is assigned to the classes of these hazard statements:

• H340May cause genetic defects <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H341Suspected of causing genetic defects <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H350May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H350iMay cause cancer by inhalation.
• H351Suspected of causing cancer < state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard >.
• H360May damage fertility or the unborn child <state specific effect if known > <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H360DMay damage the unborn child.
• H360DfMay damage the unborn child. Suspected of damaging fertility.
• H360FMay damage fertility.
• H360FDMay damage fertility. May damage the unborn child.
• H360FdMay damage fertility. Suspected of damaging the unborn child.
• H361Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child <state specific effect if known> <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H361dSuspected of damaging the unborn child.
• H361fSuspected of damaging fertility.
• H361fdSuspected of damaging fertility. Suspected of damaging the unborn child.
• H362May cause harm to breast-fed children.

Parts of the combined statement

• P308
• P313

How many hazard statements is P308+P313 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P308+P313 is provided for the classes of 16 H statements in total: 16 health hazard statements. The lowest-numbered example is H340 and the highest-numbered is H362. 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 P308+P313 in the response group:

• P306+P360IF ON CLOTHING: rinse immediately contaminated clothing and skin with plenty of water before removing clothes.
• P307+P311IF exposed: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.
• P308+P311IF exposed or concerned: Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
• P309+P311IF exposed or if you feel unwell: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.
• P332+P313If skin irritation occurs: Get medical advice/attention.
• P333+P313If skin irritation or rash occurs: Get medical advice/attention.

How is P308+P313 read?

The length of P308+P313 is 7 words. The text opens with the situation "IF exposed or concerned"; the instruction applies only when that situation occurs. It contains options separated by a slash; the preparer keeps the option that fits the product and deletes the others. Because it is a combined statement, it replaces 2 separate statements in a single line; the parts are listed below.

Where is P308+P313 written in the SDS?

When you prepare an SDS, P308+P313 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 P308+P313 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 P308+P313 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 P308+P313 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P308+P313 appears in 4 class/category entries (1 different H statements). Priority split: core (priority 1) in 4 entries. Of these entries, 0 carry the signal word “Danger”, 0 carry “Warning” and 4 need no signal word.

The class families it appears in most often: Muta. * (1), Carc. * (1), Repr. * (1) and Lact. (1).

Classes that P308+P313 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 P308+P313

The precautionary statements that most often appear with P308+P313 in the same class entries (with entry count):

• P308+P313IF exposed or concerned: Get medical advice/attention. (4)
• P201Obtain special instructions before use. (4)
• P202Do not handle until all safety precautions have been read and understood. (3)
• P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. (3)
• P405Store locked up. (3)

Where does P308+P313 stand in the response group?

P308+P313 is number 63 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 P308+P313 feed?

Because of its number and its response kind, P308+P313 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 P308+P313

• The text contains options separated by a slash; the preparer keeps only the option that fits the product.
• P308+P313 should agree with Section 4; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 7 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P308+P313 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 P308+P313 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 P308+P313 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