The Council of the EU and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on the updating of the regulation on detergents and surfactants at a conclusive trilogue held on Tuesday 10 June.
The goal behind a revision of the regulation was to simplify and consolidate the current rules in order to better protect health and the environment, while ensuring that the single market operates more smoothly with regard to detergents (see EUROPE 13637/6).
The European Parliament’s rapporteur, Majdouline Sbaï (Greens/EFA, French), welcomed the “great step forward for Europeans” that has been made possible by “the ban on animal testing, new biodegradability criteria for products, greater responsibility for non-European producers, and greater protection for users through better information”, in a press release.
Products that have undergone animal testing will no longer be authorised on the internal market, unless a derogation is granted. This will only be granted if “the ingredient is essential, irreplaceable, and the need for animal testing is justified”, explained the Council of the EU in a press release. Manufacturers outside of the EU, meanwhile, will have to “appoint an authorised representative to support compliance and liaise with local authorities in case of need”.
The European Commission will have the opportunity to improve the biodegradability of surfactants contained in detergents (the films covering the capsules, for example). Labelling information will be made more easily accessible in a digital manner, and manufacturers’ information will be made more accessible to the authorities and medical staff.
A possible reduction in the phosphorus content of detergents has been postponed. The European Commission will be tasked with studying the feasibility of this, in particular by checking that this reduction does not risk compromising the effectiveness of the products “to the point that it is necessary to increase their use”. The outcome of this assessment may lead to a new legislative proposal from the European Commission. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)