What does P405 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P405?

Storage statements (P4xx) set the conditions for keeping the product safely: locked up, in a cool, well-ventilated place or in the original container, protected from sunlight. Warehouse layout and container choice follow from these statements.

Which hazards is it used for?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P405 is assigned to the classes of these hazard statements:

• H300Fatal if swallowed.
• H301Toxic if swallowed.
• H304May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.
• H310Fatal in contact with skin.
• H311Toxic in contact with skin.
• H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
• H330Fatal if inhaled.
• H331Toxic if inhaled.
• H335May cause respiratory irritation.
• H336May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
• 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.
• H370Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H371May cause damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .

How many hazard statements is P405 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P405 is provided for the classes of 27 H statements in total: 27 health hazard statements. The lowest-numbered example is H300 and the highest-numbered is H371. 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 P405 in the storage group:

• P402Store in a dry place.
• P403Store in a well-ventilated place.
• P404Store in a closed container.
• P406Store in a corrosion-resistant/… container with a resistant inner liner.
• P407Maintain air gap between stacks or pallets.
• P410Protect from sunlight.

How is P405 read?

The length of P405 is 3 words. The text is a single instruction without options and is written as it appears in Annex IV.

Where is P405 written in the SDS?

When you prepare an SDS, P405 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 safe storage conditions in Section 7.2.

How does P405 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, storage statements are considered in position 3. 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 P405 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 storage candidate is selected.

Which classes and which priority is P405 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P405 appears in 17 class/category entries (7 different H statements). Priority split: core (priority 1) in 9 entries and secondary (priority 2) in 8 entries. Of these entries, 11 carry the signal word “Danger”, 2 carry “Warning” and 4 need no signal word. The pictograms that most often accompany it: GHS06 (9), GHS08 (3) and GHS07 (1).

The class families it appears in most often: Acute Tox. (9), STOT SE (3), Skin Corr. * (1), Muta. * (1) and Carc. * (1).

Classes that P405 is assigned to

The first 12 rows of 17 entries in the CLP Annex IV assignment table (by priority and hazard order):

Statements assigned together with P405

The precautionary statements that most often appear with P405 in the same class entries (with entry count):

• P501Dispose of contents/container to … (17)
• P321Specific treatment (see … on this label). (9)
• P264Wash … thoroughly after handling. (8)
• P270Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product. (7)
• P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. (7)

Where does P405 stand in the storage group?

P405 is number 5 of the 19 statements in the P4xx group. The group holds 6 combined and 2 withdrawn statements and 12 single valid statements. Combined statements merge several situations on one line; withdrawn statements are replaced by their current equivalents.

Which SDS section does P405 feed?

Because of its number and its storage kind, P405 relates to Section 7 Handling and storage 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 P405

• P405 should agree with Section 7; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 3 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P405 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 P405 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 P405 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