Scope:

Evaluation of Detergents Regulation - Regulation (EC) No 648/2004.

Evaluation Findings:

The evaluation concludes that:

• The aims of the Detergents Regulation are still relevant. However, some of its rules are not well adapted to certain recently developed practices such as the refill sale of detergents.

• The rules of the Detergents Regulation are consistent and complete. Some of these rules are nevertheless inconsistent and/or overlapping with other EU chemicals legislation (notably the CLP Regulation, the Biocidal Products Regulation and the REACH Regulation) and often lead to duplications in the labelling of detergents. The evaluation indicates that the simplification of labels for detergents may help to communicate more effectively the hazard and safe use information to the user.

• The cost to the detergents industry resulting from the Detergents Regulation between 2004 and 2016 was between EUR 764 million and EUR 1.8 billion. Compared to the annual EU turnover of the detergents industry these costs appear to be reasonable (the costs are less than 0.5% of the annual turnover).

• The Detergents Regulation resulted in levelling the playing field for detergents' manufacturers, making it easier for companies to trade cross border and delivering positive results for human health and the environment.

Which objective(s) does the Commission pursue?

The Commission is carrying out a revision of the Regulation aiming to:

• reduce administrative burdens

• ensure more consistency with other relevant legislation

• adapt legislation on detergents to technical progress.

It builds on recent EU evaluations of the Detergents Regulation and the rules on labels for chemical products, as well as the ‘fitness check’ on the most relevant chemicals legislation.