EU |Make detergents safer for the population and the environment

The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional deal on the update the regulation on detergents and surfactants.
The new rules simplify the placement and free movement of this products in the internal market, while accompanying market developments in terms of product innovation (such as microbial cleaning products or detergents containing microorganisms) and consumer habits (such as bulk detergent sales and refills). It also enhances the compliance and market safety of imported products by requiring non-EU manufacturers to appoint an authorised representative to support compliance and liaise with local authorities in case of need.

The provisional agreement empowers the commission to improve the biodegradability of surfactants in detergents (in particular in films covering capsules). It completes and makes more digitally available the information of labelling (for instance, including fragrance allergens and preservatives), and makes the information from manufacturers available to authorities and medical personnel, and notably to poison centres. It also asks the Commission to analyse the potential impacts of reducing the levels of phosphorus, and forbids animal testing.