Detergents and cleaning products

• Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 — Detergents
• Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 — CLP
• Regulation (EU) 2023/988 — GPSR

Who has to appoint one

Manufacturers and sellers outside the Union placing detergents and cleaning products on the EU market.

Thresholds and exemptions

None. Consumer and professional products are both covered.

What must appear on the label

Content declaration by weight ranges, list of allergenic fragrances above 0.01%, dosage instructions for consumer laundry products, CLP hazard pictograms and statements, the supplier's name and EU address, and a website with the full ingredient data sheet.

Marketplace fields

Marketplaces check for CLP pictograms in the images and the responsible person block in the listing.

Documentation you must hold

Ingredient data sheet available to medical personnel, safety data sheet, CLP classification file, and biodegradability test results for surfactants.

Standards and testing

OECD biodegradability tests for surfactants, plus classification testing under CLP.

Language requirements

The label, hazard statements and dosage instructions in the official language of each member state of sale.

When it applies

Before placing on the market. Poison centre notification with a UFI code is required before the first sale in each country.

How long records are kept

10 years.

What happens if you do not comply

Withdrawal, fines, and refusal at customs. Missing UFI codes are increasingly checked.

Who enforces it

National chemicals and consumer product authorities, plus poison centres.

Where the boundary lies

A disinfectant or antibacterial claim moves the product to the Biocidal Products Regulation, which needs a product authorisation, not a responsible person. 'Cleans' is a detergent claim, 'kills bacteria' is not.

Questions we are asked

What is a UFI code?

A unique formula identifier printed on the label and linked to the poison centre notification. Without it the product cannot lawfully be sold.