A Precautionary Statement is the standardised text describing the recommended action to minimise or prevent adverse effects from a chemical hazard under the UN Globally Harmonized System. Each statement is identified by a P-code: the letter P followed by three digits. The first digit indicates the category (P1xx general, P2xx prevention, P3xx response, P4xx storage, P5xx disposal). The next two digits identify the specific action. The P-code is language-independent, but the text must appear in the destination language on labels and SDSs.
The P-code categories
| Range | Category | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1xx | General | Generic precautions | P101 (if medical advice is needed, have product container or label at hand), P102 (keep out of reach of children) |
| P2xx | Prevention | Actions to prevent exposure or incident | P210 (keep away from heat, sparks, open flames, hot surfaces, no smoking), P233 (keep container tightly closed), P261 (avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray) |
| P3xx | Response | Actions to take after exposure or incident | P301 (if swallowed:), P305+P351+P338 (if in eyes: rinse cautiously with water for several minutes; remove contact lenses if present and easy to do; continue rinsing), P331 (do NOT induce vomiting) |
| P4xx | Storage | Storage requirements | P402 (store in a dry place), P403 (store in a well-ventilated place), P403+P233 (store in a well-ventilated place; keep container tightly closed) |
| P5xx | Disposal | Disposal requirements | P501 (dispose of contents/container in accordance with local/regional/national/international regulations) |
Combined P-statements
Many P-statements appear as combined codes joined by plus signs. Common examples:
- P301+P310+P330: “If swallowed: immediately call a POISON CENTRE or doctor. Rinse mouth.”
- P303+P361+P353: “If on skin (or hair): take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water [or shower].”
- P305+P351+P338: “If in eyes: rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.”
- P403+P233: “Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed.”
The combinations are themselves standardised, only the GHS-listed combinations are permitted. Custom combinations are not allowed; the label must use the listed combination or list the individual codes separately.
How P-statements appear on a label
A typical label displays P-statements alongside the pictograms, signal word, and H-statements:
[GHS02 flame pictogram] [GHS06 skull and crossbones] [GHS08 health hazard]
DANGER (signal word)
H225 - Highly flammable liquid and vapour
H301+H311+H331 - Toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled
H370 - Causes damage to organs (visual organs, central nervous system)
P210 - Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames, hot surfaces. No smoking.
P260 - Do not breathe vapours.
P280 - Wear protective gloves/clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P301+P310 - If swallowed: immediately call a POISON CENTRE/doctor.
P304+P340 - If inhaled: remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.
P403+P233 - Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed.
P501 - Dispose of contents/container to authorised waste collection point.Above is a typical methanol label. The P-statements are chosen to address the specific hazards declared by the H-statements.
Selecting the right P-statements
A label cannot list every conceivable P-statement. GHS Annex 3 specifies which P-statements correspond to each H-statement. The label uses the P-statements indicated for the H-statements actually present.
For example, H225 (highly flammable liquid and vapour) corresponds to:
- P210 (keep away from heat…)
- P233 (keep container tightly closed)
- P241 (use explosion-proof equipment)
- P242 (use only non-sparking tools)
- P243 (take precautionary measures against static discharge)
- P280 (wear protective gloves…)
- P303+P361+P353 (if on skin: …)
- P370+P378 (in case of fire: use [appropriate] to extinguish)
- P403+P235 (store in a well-ventilated place; keep cool)
- P501 (dispose of contents/container…)
The factory or formulator selects from this list the statements most relevant to the substance’s actual storage and use conditions. Not every P-statement applies to every product; the label includes the relevant subset.
Verifying P-statements on Chinese factory labels
Three checks:
- The P-statements correspond to the H-statements present. A substance classified H225 should have P210 and other corresponding P-codes. A label with H225 but no P-statements in the P2xx prevention range is incomplete.
- The combined statements use only GHS-listed combinations. A combined “P305+P351+P338” is valid; “P305+P338+P351” (re-ordered) is not officially listed. Pedantic but real for GHS-strict regulators.
- The destination language is correct. Same as for H-statements, the P-statement text must be in the destination market’s official language.
Operator note: the over-precaution problem
A Chinese factory’s standard label sometimes lists 15-20 P-statements covering every hazard route the factory’s product line could trigger. The result is a cluttered label that buries the most relevant precautions under generic ones. CLP and OSHA both allow the supplier to limit P-statements to the most operationally relevant, typically 5 to 8 statements per label. A buyer can request a “primary precautions” label set that omits unnecessary entries while still meeting GHS minimums.
Related terms
GHS is the umbrella framework. GHS pictograms and hazard statement (H-codes) are the other label elements. Signal word, “Danger” or “Warning”, accompanies. SDS section 2 carries the H- and P-statement set; SDS sections 4-8 expand on the precautionary actions in narrative form.