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NEW EU LEGISLATION FOR DETERGENTS, APPLICABLE IN OCTOBER
2005
The new
detergent regulation (No 648/2004), which was adopted by the European
Parliament and the Council of 31 March 2004 and published in the Official
Journal (8 April 2004), will enter into force on
8 Oct. 2005.
This Regulation consolidates the existing community legislation on
biodegradability and labeling of detergents by bringing together the five
Directives and the single Regulation current in this field.
While the
fundamental policy in this area remains unchanged, this new proposal is intended
to enhance environment and human health protection and to harmonize the rules
concerning detergents within the Internal Market. However, the main focus of the
Regulation remains the protection of the aquatic environment.
Under this
Regulation, the definition of detergents is broadened and test methods for
assessing the biodegradability of all types of detergent surfactants are now
included. The Regulation also requires specific information to be provided on
detergent packaging, relating to ingredients, instructions for use and special
precautions, if required.
Detergent
manufacturers will also be required to provide health care professionals, on
request, with a datasheet containing a full list of ingredients for each
detergent product placed on the market. This is intended to allow health care
professionals to investigate whether a link exists between the development of an
allergic response and exposure to a particular chemical substance.
Producers of
detergents and surfactants for detergents should be aware of the shift of
emphasis under the new Regulation. While under current legislation it falls to
Member States’ initiative to determine compliance, the new Regulation places
responsibility on manufacturers to hold at the disposal of the Member States
information relating to the biodegradability of the surfactants used in
detergent products according to the tests prescribed in the Regulation.
The
Detergent Regulation 648/2004 introduces a stricter series of tests for
determining both the primary and the ultimate biodegradability of surfactants.
While previous legislation only covers primary biodegradability and is only
applicable to anionic and non-ionic surfactants, this Regulation includes the
four surfactant families: anionic, non-ionic, cationic and amphoteric. The new
Regulation clearly places the emphasis on the ultimate biodegradability of
surfactants to address concerns related to the potential toxicity of persistent
metabolites. Those detergents containing surfactants that do not fulfill the new
requirements will not be permitted on the EU market. A derogation procedure is,
however, included in the Regulation to allow for exceptional circumstances.
Thus, the
regulation 648/2004 provides rules for (i) placing detergents on the market, (ii)
granting derogation, (iii) information to be provided by manufacturers, (iv)
labeling on the packaging of detergents for consumers and (v) provides test
methods to be used to assess the biodegradability of surfactants used in
detergents.
A technical
guidance document is currently being developed by the EU commission
DG-Enterprise.
For more
details, please see the:
Regulation
in English
Regulation in French
Regulation in German
Regulation in Spanish
Regulation
in Italian
Regulation in Dutch
Regulation in Swedish
Ultimate Biodegradability of Commercial LAS (Na salt) as
requested under Regulation (EC) Nš 648/2004 of 31 March 2004 on Detergents
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