P203 · Precautionary statementObtain, read and follow all safety instructions before use.

Precautionary · PreventionHealthPhysicalNot adopted: US, EU, Canada, Mexico

P203 is the GHS precautionary statement “Obtain, read and follow all safety instructions before use”. UN GHS Annex 3 assigns it to 6 hazard classes. Not adopted in US OSHA, EU CLP, Canada and Mexico. In the UN GHS Rev.11 label matrix it is used with 14 hazard statements (UN only).

Maintained by Valenc. Data checked 2026-10-20.

Heading text: UN GHS Rev.11 Annex 3. Wording can differ by jurisdiction; see the table below.

Wording by jurisdiction

UN GHS Rev.11

Same as UN

GHS Rev.11 (2025), Annex 3

Obtain, read and follow all safety instructions before use.

UN GHS Rev.11, Annex 3, Table A3.2.2, PDF p. 314

US OSHA HCS

Not adopted

HCS 2024 · primarily GHS Rev.7, some Rev.8

No matching wording in OSHA Appendix C.

EU CLP

Not adopted

EU_CLP_2025 · consolidated 1 Jul 2026

Not listed in EU CLP Annex III or IV.

Canada (EN)

Not adopted

WHMIS_2022 · GHS Rev.7 (Rev.8 for chemicals under pressure)

Not in GHS Rev.7 (the edition the HPR incorporates).

Canada (FR)

Not adopted

WHMIS_2022 · SGH Rév.7, texte officiel

Not in GHS Rev.7 (the edition the HPR incorporates).

Mexico (ES)

Not adopted

NOM-018-STPS-2015 · GHS 5th revised edition

Not listed in NOM-018-STPS-2015 Appendix C/D.

Hazard classes and categories

Explosives (chapter 2.1) · Category 1, 2A, 2B
Flammable gases (chapter 2.2) · Category Chemically unstable gas A, 1A, Chemically unstable gas B
Germ cell mutagenicity (chapter 3.5) · Category 1, 1A, 1B, 2
Carcinogenicity (chapter 3.6) · Category 1, 1A, 1B, 2
Reproductive toxicity (chapter 3.7) · Category 1, 1A, 1B, 2
Reproductive toxicity, effects on or via lactation (chapter 3.7) · Category Additional category

UN GHS Rev.11 Annex 3, sections 1 and 2

H statements it is used with in the UN GHS Rev.11 label matrix only

UN GHS Rev.11 only. EU CLP, US OSHA, Canada (GHS Rev.7) and Mexico assign their own P statements; check the regulation for your market.

H204 H209 H210 H211 H220 H230 H231 H340 H341 H350 H351 H360 H361 H362

UN GHS Rev.11 Annex 3, section 3. Listed for at least one category that uses each H statement.

Change in UN GHS Rev.11

No change to the wording or the hazard classes in Annex 3 compared with Rev.10.

Sources

Each cell in the table names the official table and page for P203. Full citations, links and revision notes for UN GHS Rev.11, US OSHA, EU CLP, Canada and Mexico: Sources and revision notes.

These are regulatory phrases for labels and safety data sheets. Check them against the official source for your jurisdiction before use.