Faresetningene

Faresetningene, or faresetningene in Norwegian, are hazard statements used to describe the specific dangers associated with chemical substances and mixtures. They were part of the hazard communication framework that accompanied chemical labeling and safety documentation in the European system prior to full harmonization with the Global Harmonized System (GHS).

Historically, faresetningene formed one half of the combined labeling scheme, the other half being the sikkerhetssetninger (safety statements). Together they informed users about both the hazards of a substance and the precautions needed to handle it safely. The faresetningene were codified with a set of numeric identifiers and accompanying text that described hazards such as flammability, toxicity, environmental risk, and other dangerous properties. The system was widely used in chemical regulations, safety data sheets, and product labeling across Europe and in Norway.

With the adoption of the GHS and its H- and P-statements, many national and regional regulations moved toward the new terminology, and faresetningene have become largely historical in contemporary labeling. However, older documents, legacy safety data sheets, and some national guidelines may still reference faresetninger when describing past classifications or interpreting historical hazard information. In current practice, Norwegian regulation tends to align with H- and P-statements, while acknowledging the historical role of faresetningene in hazard communication.

Overall, faresetningene represent a key step in the evolution of chemical safety labeling, illustrating how hazard information was standardized and communicated before modern harmonization efforts.