EC Specific chemicals and Chemicals Legislation

http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/chemicals/specific-chemicals_en

Detergents are products containing soaps or other surfactants intended for washing and cleaning.

Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 on detergents ensures that only detergents with surfactants that are fully biodegradable may be placed on the market. In addition, detergent labels must contain ingredient and dosage information. This is to protect the health of consumers, especially against allergies, and to avoid the over-use of detergents.

In particular, this Regulation harmonises the following rules for placing detergents and surfactants for detergents, on the EU market:

• • the biodegradability of surfactants in detergents

  • restrictions or bans on surfactants on grounds of biodegradability

  • the additional labelling of detergents, including fragrance allergens

  • the information that manufacturers must hold at the disposal of national authorities and medical personnel

  • limitations on the content of phosphates and other phosphorus compounds in consumer laundry detergents and consumer automatic dishwasher detergents.

http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/chemicals/legislation_en

Current legislation on detergents

• Unofficial consolidation of the Regulation (EC) No 648/2004

  • List of the 26 allergenic substances (11 kB) which must be labelled on the packaging of detergents if added at concentrations exceeding 0.01% w/w - see Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on the Cosmetics website / Legislation updates

  • List of the Member States (55 kB) having confirmed that they intend to keep existing national restrictions on the content of phosphates and of other phosphorus compounds in line with Article 14.3 of Regulation (EU) No 259/2012

Guidance on the implementation of the detergents legislation

These guidance documents are not legally binding. They have been drafted by trade associations. The Commission is not responsible for the content.

• • AISE has produced a guideline to help industry with the implementation of the provisions on the biodegradability of surfactants and on the labelling of detergents under Regulation (EC) No 648/2004

  • CESIO guideline (164 kB) which gives standardised declarations on biodegradability for use on Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to enable surfactant manufacturers to fulfil their responsibilities under Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 648/2004

  • AISE/CESIO/ECOSOL/FECC guidelines (381 kB) on the transmission of information for surfactants biodegradability as indicated by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 648/2004

• AISE's multi-lingual Cleanright campaign

Reports of the Commission on the implementation of the detergents legislation

• • Commission report concerning the biodegradability of the main non-surfactant organic detergent ingredients (May 2009)

  • Commission report concerning anaerobic biodegradation (May 2009)

  • Commission report on phosphates in detergents (April 2007)

  • Final report (79 kB) (1996-2001) on the results reached by the implementation of Commission

  • Recommendation 98/480/EC of 22 July 1998, concerning good environmental practice for household laundry detergents

Studies

• Ex-Post Evaluation of Detergents Regulation 648/2004

  • 2014 Evaluation of the use of phosphates in Consumer Automatic Dishwasher Detergents (CADD) - study report (1MB)

  • 2009 laymans summary of the INIA report (155 kB)

  • 2009 updated CEEP-INIA study report (3 MB) of the European Quantitative Eutrophication Risk Assessment of Polyphosphates in Detergents

  • 2007 CEEP-INIA study report of the European Quantitative Eutrophication Risk Assessment of Polyphosphates in Detergents (2 MB) and the revised summary of the report (78 kB)

  • Non-surfactant Organic Ingredients and Zeolite-based Detergents (845 kB), study carried out by RPA Ltd, June 2006

  • Biodegradation of Detergent Surfactants in Anaerobic Conditions, study carried out by UMSICHT in July 2003

  • Cationic & Amphoteric Surfactant Primary Biodegradability Ring Test, ETD/98/502063(193 kB)

Review of the Detergents Regulation 648/2004

• Evaluation and Fitness Check Roadmap

• Consultation strategy

Contact points

• • Associations and federations (538 kB)

  • European Commission: Requests by manufacturers for derogations under Art. 5, and enquiries concerning the detergents legislation

    • • List of approved laboratories (56 kB) in accordance with Art. 8 of Regulation 648/2004

      • National authorities (122 kB)

Frequently asked questions

• • FAQ on the Detergent Regulation (456 kB)