P273 · Precautionary statementAvoid release to the environment.

Precautionary · PreventionEnvironmentalNot adopted: US

P273 is the GHS precautionary statement “Avoid release to the environment”. UN GHS Annex 3 assigns it to Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard (chapter 4.1), Category 1, 2, 3 and Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard (chapter 4.1), Category 1, 2, 3, 4. The English wording is the same as UN GHS Rev.11 in EU CLP and Canada. Not adopted in US OSHA. Canada’s official French text is “Éviter le rejet dans l'environnement” and Mexico’s Spanish text is “No dispersar en el medio ambiente”. In the UN GHS Rev.11 label matrix it is used with 7 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

Avoid release to the environment.

UN GHS Rev.11, Annex 3, Table A3.2.2, PDF p. 320

US OSHA HCS

Not adopted

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

No matching wording in OSHA Appendix C.

EU CLP

Same as UN

EU_CLP_2025 · consolidated 1 Jul 2026

Avoid release to the environment.

EU CLP, Annex IV, Part 2

Canada (EN)

Same as UN

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

Avoid release to the environment.

GHS Rev.7 Annex 3 Table A3.2

In GHS Rev.7 this statement is only assigned to classes or categories that the HPR does not adopt.

Canada (FR)

Adopted

WHMIS_2022 · SGH Rév.7, texte officiel

Éviter le rejet dans l'environnement.

GHS Rev.7 Annex 3 Table A3.2

Mexico (ES)

Adopted

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

No dispersar en el medio ambiente

NOM-018-STPS-2015, DOF 9 October 2015, Apéndice D, Tabla D.1, PDF p. 35

Hazard classes and categories

Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard (chapter 4.1) · Category 1, 2, 3
Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard (chapter 4.1) · Category 1, 2, 3, 4

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.

H400 H401 H402 H410 H411 H412 H413

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

Conditions for use

if this is not the intended use.

Quoted as published in UN GHS Rev.11 Annex 3, section 2. List markers are shown as bullets.

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 P273. 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.