What does P501 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P501?

Disposal statements (P5xx) explain how to dispose of the product and its packaging; most of them ask for the contents and the container to be disposed of in line with local, national or international rules. Waste classification is not decided by this statement alone.

Which hazards is it used for?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P501 is assigned to the classes of these hazard statements:

• H200Unstable explosives.
• H201Explosive; mass explosion hazard.
• H202Explosive, severe projection hazard.
• H203Explosive; fire, blast or projection hazard.
• H204Fire or projection hazard.
• H205May mass explode in fire.
• H224Extremely flammable liquid and vapour.
• H225Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
• H226Flammable liquid and vapour.
• H240Heating may cause an explosion.
• H241Heating may cause a fire or explosion.
• H242Heating may cause a fire.
• H260In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously.
• H261In contact with water releases flammable gases.
• H271May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidiser.
• H272May intensify fire; oxidiser.
• H300Fatal if swallowed.
• H301Toxic if swallowed.
• H302Harmful if swallowed.
• H304May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.
• H310Fatal in contact with skin.
• H311Toxic in contact with skin.
• H312Harmful in contact with skin.
• H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
• H317May cause an allergic skin reaction.
• H330Fatal if inhaled.
• H331Toxic if inhaled.
• H334May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties 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> .
• H372Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H373May cause damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H400Very toxic to aquatic life.
• H410Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
• H411Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
• H412Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
• H413May cause long lasting harmful effects to aquatic life.

How many hazard statements is P501 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P501 is provided for the classes of 54 H statements in total: 16 physical hazard statements, 33 health hazard statements, and 5 environmental hazard statements. The lowest-numbered example is H200 and the highest-numbered is H413. 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 P501 in the disposal group:

• P502Refer to manufacturer or supplier for information on recovery or recycling.

How is P501 read?

The length of P501 is 5 words. It contains options separated by a slash; the preparer keeps the option that fits the product and deletes the others.

Where is P501 written in the SDS?

When you prepare an SDS, P501 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 waste treatment methods in Section 13.

How does P501 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, disposal statements are considered in position 4. 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 P501 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 disposal candidate is selected.

Which classes and which priority is P501 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P501 appears in 40 class/category entries (9 different H statements). Priority split: core (priority 1) in 5 entries and secondary (priority 2) in 35 entries. Of these entries, 17 carry the signal word “Danger”, 8 carry “Warning” and 15 need no signal word. The pictograms that most often accompany it: GHS06 (9), GHS08 (5), GHS02 (3) and GHS07 (3).

The class families it appears in most often: Acute Tox. (11), Aquatic Chronic (4), Flam. Liq. (3), STOT SE (3) and STOT RE (2).

Classes that P501 is assigned to

The first 12 rows of 40 entries in the CLP Annex IV assignment table (by priority and hazard order):

Statements assigned together with P501

The precautionary statements that most often appear with P501 in the same class entries (with entry count):

• P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. (21)
• P405Store locked up. (17)
• P321Specific treatment (see … on this label). (11)
• P370+P378In case of fire: Use… to extinguish. (10)
• P210Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking. (10)

Where does P501 stand in the disposal group?

P501 is number 1 of the 2 statements in the P5xx group. The group holds 0 combined and 0 withdrawn statements and 2 single valid statements. Combined statements merge several situations on one line; withdrawn statements are replaced by their current equivalents.

Which SDS section does P501 feed?

Because of its number and its disposal kind, P501 relates to Section 13 Disposal 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 P501

• The text contains options separated by a slash; the preparer keeps only the option that fits the product.
• The text ends with “…”; the supplier supplies the completion.
• P501 should agree with Section 13; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 5 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P501 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 P501 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 P501 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