What does P502 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P502?

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, P502 is assigned to the classes of these hazard statements:

• H420Harms public health and the environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere

How many hazard statements is P502 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P502 is provided for the classes of 1 H statements in total: 1 environmental hazard statement. The lowest-numbered example is H420 and the highest-numbered is H420. 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 P502 in the disposal group:

• P501Dispose of contents/container to …

How is P502 read?

The text of P502 is 11 words long. The text is a single instruction without options and is written as it appears in Annex IV.

Where is P502 written in the SDS?

In the SDS, P502 is written in Section 2.2 (label elements) with its code and the text "Refer to manufacturer or supplier for information on recovery or recycling.". Being a disposal statement, it sits among the disposal lines. The statement should also agree with the waste treatment methods in Section 13.

How does P502 appear on the label?

On the label P502 appears together with its text; under CLP Article 28(3) a label usually carries at most 6 precautionary statements. 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 P502 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 P502 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P502 appears in 1 class/category entries (1 different H statements). Priority split: core (priority 1) in 1 entries. Of these entries, 0 carry the signal word “Danger”, 1 carry “Warning” and 0 need no signal word. The pictograms that most often accompany it: GHS07 (1).

The class families it appears in most often: Ozone (1).

Classes that P502 is assigned to

The first 1 rows of 1 entries in the CLP Annex IV assignment table (by priority and hazard order):

Where does P502 stand in the disposal group?

P502 is number 2 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 P502 feed?

Because of its number and its disposal kind, P502 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 P502

• P502 should agree with Section 13; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 11 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P502 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 P502 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 P502 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