Labeling Requirements for Hazardous Substances

Every container used to store hazardous substances must be labeled, tagged, or marked with the following information for the hazardous substance(s) it contains:

1. Chemical name (the proper scientific name)—not the product name (i.e. Drano)
2. Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number (a unique number that identifies chemical elements, compounds, polymers, biological sequences, mixtures, and alloys).
3. Appropriate hazardous warning associated with the chemical

To identify the reporting quantities (TRQ), visit the Hazardous Substance List and the Hazard Category List. The Hazard Category List can be found in the NYC Community Right-to-Know Laws and Regulations (Page 6709 RCNY 7-31-94) linked below under Additional Information.

If the substance is protected under the “trade secret” claim, the label should bear the specific code assigned for such substance. The labels must be written in legible English, prominently displayed on the container or readily available in the work area through each work shift. Information can be provided in other languages in addition to English, but it must appear in English.

If the quantity of hazardous substances at the facility does not exceed the (TRQ) in the Hazardous Substance List and the Hazard Category List, applicants are exempt from reporting the hazardous substances to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). However, applicants must write a letter to the DEP stating the following:

1. Right-to-Know Facility ID Number (DEP assigned number if the user has previous reported Hazardous Substances) if the applicant has one.
2. The appropriate North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
3. The reason why the facility is not required to report.