EU Parliament Environment Committee approves updated detergents regulation

The EU Parliament's Environment Committee has cleared the way for the updated Detergents Regulation after the EU Commission's proposal was amended on a number of points. The improvements primarily serve to protect the environment, consumers, water and water bodies.

In fact, the lowered threshold values for the total phosphorus content in detergents and cleaning agents could significantly reduce the burden on water bodies. The stricter values apply to detergents for hand dishwashing as well as household cleaners. Another new feature is that the threshold values are now also mandatory for industrially used detergents and cleaning agents for the first time.

More environmental and consumer protection

The legislators are also hoping for improvements in environmental protection. For example, detergents must be more biodegradable in future. Persistent substances that can accumulate in the environment and thus contaminate drinking water resources will be banned in future.

Last but not least, the new regulations should also benefit consumers, as manufacturers will have to list all ingredients on the labels in future. And clearly visible scales on the caps and measuring cups of the containers will ensure the correct dosage.

In a press release, the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (A.I.S.E.) described the decision as an important step towards the new detergents regulation. Nevertheless, it considers the phosphorus limit value for industrial and commercial applications to be unrealistic.

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