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Track EU Parliament activity with clear, human-friendly updates.
Track EU Parliament activity with clear, human-friendly updates.
Modernizing Detergent Rules: Safer, Greener, and Faster
Published December 09, 2025
Goal: Simplify trade, protect health
This new EU rule will simplify and update detergent laws to make it easier to sell products across Europe while protecting people and the planet, by tightening phosphorus limits, improving biodegradability, banning animal tests, easing paperwork, and giving companies more time to adapt.
Problem being addressed
The current rules on detergents and surfactants are old and complex. They make it hard for companies to sell these products across the EU market and they do not fully protect human health or the environment.
How the problem is being solved
The European Commission has proposed a new regulation that will simplify and modernise the existing rules. The goal is to make it easier for products to move freely inside the EU while keeping high protection for people and nature. The proposal was sent to the European Parliament and the Council on 28 April 2023. The European Economic and Social Committee gave its opinion on 12 July 2023, the Parliament first read the proposal on 27 February 2024, and the Council adopted its position on 8 December 2025.
Changes resulting from the document
| Area | What will change | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus limits | The Commission will review and possibly lower limits for laundry and dishwasher detergents within 2 years, and may set new limits for other products. A full review will happen within 7 years to consider phasing out phosphorus. | 2 years / 7 years |
| Biodegradability | New criteria for film materials in detergent capsules (within 3 years) and for high‑concentration organic substances (within 5 years). Companies must meet these criteria within 6 years for capsules and 8 years for other substances. | 3 years / 5 years / 6 years / 8 years |
| Detergents with microorganisms | A risk‑assessment method will be created in a delegated act within 30 months, avoiding animal testing. | 30 months |
| Animal testing | A general ban on animal testing for compliance, with the Commission allowed to permit it only in exceptional cases. | Immediate |
| Authorized representatives | Their mandate will be extended to cover more compliance checks for non‑EU manufacturers. | Immediate |
| Administrative burden | Rules will be simplified for surfactants sold to manufacturers versus end‑users. Digital product passports will be created for product models, not every batch. | Immediate |
| Ingredient data sheets | Non‑hazardous detergent data sheets will be sent to national poison centres before market entry, using a format from the European Chemicals Agency. | Immediate |
| Deferral of application | The new regulation will not take effect for 42 months. | 42 months |
Conclusion
The Commission supports the Council’s position and accepts it at first reading, agreeing that the proposed changes will modernise the regulation while protecting health and the environment.
Licensing: The summaries on this page are available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
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