We are finding out more and more about the risks of (hazardous) substances, for example through scientific research. You can also find a great deal of information about substances online. Always bear in mind that a product you might buy or use is often a mixture of 1 or more substances.
ECHA
A reliable source of information is the website of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). There you can search by substance name (or identification number), but not by product name. The names/numbers of the substances can be found on the product label. The ECHA information on substances is only available in English.
Gestis
The Gestis database also contains a lot of information on substances, including limit values from different countries. This information is available in English and German.
SZW list of carcinogenic substances
Some substances are known to be carcinogenic. Please click the following link to access the latest version of the official list of carcinogenic substances (Dutch).
Health and safety catalogues
Employers and employees of a particular sector will record their agreements in a health and safety catalogue. These agreements cover the measures they expect companies in the sector to take to mitigate the risk of damage to people's health due to from poor working conditions. Please click the following link for an overview of all the health and safety catalogues (Dutch).
Carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances
Please click the following link for more information on carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances (CMR substances).
Employers' obligation to provide information
Employers must inform their employees about the risks associated with certain substances. They must also have information in Dutch on all the substances the company uses, for example in the form of safety data sheets or workplace instructions.