Detergents Regulation: European Parliament and EU Council of Ministers Have Reached an Agreement

The update to the Detergents Regulation has cleared the next hurdle. The EU Council of Ministers and the European Parliament have agreed on a common position on the EU Commission’s draft. The revised law is expected to be published in early 2026.

Bones of Contention

Phosphorus content: Unlike the EU Council of Ministers, the EU Parliament wanted to further restrict the phosphorus content. Both sides have now agreed to pass the ball back to the EU Commission and request studies into whether and to what extent the amount of phosphorus can be further reduced without impairing the detergent’s effectiveness. The EU Commission will then evaluate the results and, if necessary, propose a new draft.

Biodegradability: The EU Commission should also establish criteria for the biodegradability of polymers added to detergents. And it should determine the need for specific criteria on the biodegradability of other organic substances.

The controversial issue of animal testing

In principle, only detergents and cleaning products whose ingredients have been tested using alternative test methods, i.e. without animal testing, are permitted on the EU market. The EU must approve exceptional cases.

Further market criteria

In future, there will be a digital product passport for every product. This passport is intended to facilitate checks at EU borders and make online sales safer. For this reason, detergents imported into the EU must have an importer based in the EU or an authorized representative who ensures compliance with the regulations. It is hoped that this will also improve cooperation with the national authorities.

If you have any questions about detergents and cleaning agents and the new detergents regulation, please do not hesitate to contact us at saleskft.de.