EC Number

Definition:

The EC Number (European Community Number) is a unique seven-digit identification number for registering chemical substances on the European market. It is awarded by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and is used to identify substances within the framework of legal regulations such as REACH and CLP.
The EC number comprises three main lists of substances:

• ‍EINECS — European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances‍
• ELINCS — European List of Notified Chemical Substances‍
• NLP list — “No-longer polymers”

In contrast to the CAS number used worldwide, the EC number is particularly relevant for substances that are regulated within the European Union.

Structure and areas of use
An EC number consists of the XXX-XXX-X format and is used, among other things, in safety data sheets, hazardous substance registers and classifications under the CLP regulation to clearly identify substances and comply with regulatory requirements.

Regulatory involvement
EC numbers are part of central EU chemicals regulations, in particular REACH (registration and evaluation of chemicals) and CLP (classification, labelling, packaging).

_{Sources/further links:
ECHA — Explanation and structure of the EC number: About EC and list numbers - ECHA}

_{ECHA —EINECS/ELINCS/NLP system:EC directory - ECHA}

_{EU CLP regulation — reference to substance identification: Regulación - 1272/2008 - EN - clp regulation - EUR-Lex}

Challenges when dealing with EC numbers:

Unclear or missing substance identification in supply chains
Complex supply chains can lead to ambiguity when EC numbers are missing, incorrectly maintained, or inconsistently communicated about CAS numbers. This complicates compliance obligations, such as SDS preparation or classification according to CLP.
_{Sources/further links:
ECHA Guidance — Substance Identification Challenges: ee696bad-49f6-4fec-b8b7-2c3706113c7d}

Manual maintenance & data inconsistencies in business systems
Errors can occur when EC numbers are entered manually in ERP, SDS or hazardous materials systems, which can lead to incorrect hazardous substance information in the transport process.
_{Sources/further links:
OECD Chemical Safety Programme — Data Harmonization Issues: Chemical safety and biosafety | OECD}

Loady's solution:

Centrally maintained, consistent material and product information
Loady enables companies to store product-specific requirements in a clear and structured way — including relevant regulatory and documentation information. This reduces errors when assigning chemical substances.

Transparency for transport partners & drivers
The provision of clear information on hazardous substances, document requirements and safety requirements ensures that logistics partners know at an early stage which regulatory requirements apply — and which substance information must be available.