On December 8, 2025, the Council of the European Union formally approved the new Detergents and Surfactants Regulation, aimed at comprehensively updating and replacing the current Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 on detergents, which has been in force for two decades.
On March 2, 2026, Regulation (EU) 2026/405 on detergents and surfactants was officially published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The new regulation introduces a more digital, sustainable and traceable compliance framework for detergents and surfactants placed on the EU market.
News Brief | Regulatory Background | Key Changes | Implementation Timeline | Compliance Recommendations | How REACH24H Can Help
News Brief
The new regulation is designed to adapt EU detergents legislation to new market developments, simplify compliance requirements, strengthen environmental standards and support the EU’s green and digital transition. It expands the regulatory scope to cover microbial detergents and refill sales, prohibits animal testing for compliance with the regulation, strengthens biodegradability requirements, introduces digital labeling and a Digital Product Passport (DPP), and enhances market surveillance.
The regulation enters into force on March 22, 2026 and, with limited exceptions, will apply from September 23, 2029. This provides companies with a transition period to prepare product formulas, technical documentation, labeling, digital systems and supply chain responsibilities.
Regulatory update: Regulation (EU) 2026/405 has now been officially published and is in force. The previous requirement for a final European Parliament vote is no longer applicable. Companies should focus on the transition period leading up to the application date of September 23, 2029.
Regulatory Background
Detergents are fundamental chemical products essential for safeguarding public health and hygiene across modern society. However, as chemical products, they may pose potential risks to human health and the environment. Since 2004, Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 has provided the main EU framework for detergents, including requirements on surfactant biodegradability, phosphate limits, information availability and labeling.
With the evolution of the detergents market, the 2004 framework has shown limitations. It created overlaps with broader EU chemical legislation such as EU REACH and EU CLP, and it did not fully address new business models such as refill sales, microbial cleaning products and online sales. To address these issues, the EU initiated the revision of the detergents framework in 2023.
The final adoption and publication of Regulation (EU) 2026/405 marks a new phase for EU detergents and surfactants compliance, shifting the framework toward digital traceability, streamlined information requirements, stronger environmental performance and clearer responsibilities for economic operators.
What Is the New Regulation on Detergents and Surfactants: Key Changes
Regulation (EU) 2026/405 retains the core safety and environmental objectives of the previous detergents framework while introducing several important updates for companies placing detergents and surfactants on the EU market.
| Key Change | What the New Regulation Introduces | Business Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Expanded scope | The regulation covers detergents containing micro-organisms and establishes specific rules for refill sales. | Companies should review whether innovative or refill-based products now fall within clearer regulatory obligations. |
| Animal testing prohibition | Animal testing is prohibited for the purpose of meeting the requirements of the new regulation. | Safety substantiation and compliance documentation should rely on accepted non-animal or existing evidence approaches where applicable. |
| Biodegradability requirements | The regulation maintains surfactant biodegradability requirements and prepares for future criteria for certain organic ingredients, including polymer films. | Formula review, supplier data collection and testing strategy may be required for affected ingredients. |
| Digital labeling | Some mandatory information may be provided digitally, while essential safety and use information must remain available on the physical label. | Companies should redesign labels and digital information systems while avoiding duplication with other EU labeling rules. |
| Digital Product Passport | Detergents and end-user surfactants will need a Digital Product Passport linked to a data carrier, such as a QR code. | Product data governance, traceability and customs verification readiness will become core compliance tasks. |
| Market surveillance | The regulation strengthens economic operator obligations and aligns with EU market surveillance rules. | Manufacturers, importers, distributors and authorized representatives should clarify their responsibilities before the application date. |
Expanded Scope to Cover Emerging Products
The new regulation brings detergents containing live micro-organisms under its scope and sets specific safety requirements for them. It also explicitly covers refill sales, requiring refilled detergents and surfactants to comply with the same safety and environmental standards as pre-packaged products.
Strengthened Biodegradability Requirements
The new regulation maintains strict requirements on the ultimate biodegradability of surfactants used in detergent products. It also creates a pathway for the European Commission to develop biodegradability criteria for other ingredients, including water-soluble polymeric films used to encapsulate detergents and other organic substances used in high concentrations.
Companies should also note that detergent compliance may intersect with other EU chemical rules, including EU Microplastics (SPMs) Regulations, Global GHS/SDS/MSDS/Label Compliance, and EU classification and labeling obligations.
Digital Labeling and Digital Product Passport
Digitalization is one of the most significant features of the new detergents framework. The regulation introduces digital labels and requires detergents and end-user surfactants placed on the EU market to have a Digital Product Passport. The passport will be linked to the product through a data carrier, such as a QR code, and will support supply chain traceability and customs verification.
The Digital Product Passport framework is designed to be interoperable with broader EU product data rules, including requirements under Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 establishing the framework for ecodesign requirements for sustainable products.
Optimization of Compliance and Market Surveillance
Regulation (EU) 2026/405 clarifies the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers, distributors and authorized representatives. It also confirms the relevance of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance and compliance of products, strengthening enforcement against non-compliant detergents and surfactants entering or circulating in the EU market.
Key Implementation Timeline
| Date | Regulatory Milestone | Business Action |
|---|---|---|
| March 2, 2026 | Regulation (EU) 2026/405 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. | Companies should begin reviewing affected product portfolios and supply chain roles. |
| March 22, 2026 | The regulation entered into force on the twentieth day following publication. | Compliance planning and transition preparation should start as early as possible. |
| September 23, 2029 | The regulation applies, with limited exceptions. Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 is repealed from the same date. | New products placed on the EU market should comply with the new framework, including relevant DPP, labeling and documentation duties. |
| September 23, 2030 | Certain transitional arrangements end for products placed on the market between September 23, 2029 and September 22, 2030 under the old rules. | Companies should manage inventory, labeling changes and market placement strategy carefully. |
Compliance Recommendations from REACH24H
For the detergents industry, this revision represents the most significant regulatory overhaul in two decades. It marks a shift from traditional product documentation toward digital compliance management, lifecycle traceability and stronger market surveillance.
Conduct a product portfolio review: Identify detergents, surfactants, microbial products, refill products and end-user surfactants that may fall within the new scope.
Review formulation and ingredient data: Assess surfactant biodegradability, polymer films, organic substances in high concentrations and potential overlap with EU microplastics compliance.
Prepare labeling and SDS updates: Align physical labels, digital labels and safety data sheets with the new regulation as well as EU CLP and related GHS requirements.
Build DPP readiness: Start preparing product identifiers, data carriers, compliance data, Declaration of Conformity and technical documentation.
Clarify supply chain roles: Confirm the obligations of manufacturers, importers, distributors, refill operators, online sellers and EU-based authorized representatives.
Plan transition management: Review existing inventory, product launch schedules and compliance cut-off dates before September 23, 2029.
Need to assess your EU detergents and surfactants compliance obligations?
REACH24H can help you review product scope, formula data, labeling, SDS, DPP readiness and supply chain responsibilities under Regulation (EU) 2026/405.
Contact Our Regulatory SpecialistsHow REACH24H Can Help
REACH24H provides global chemical regulatory compliance services for companies placing products on the EU market. For detergents and surfactants, our support can be integrated with broader EU chemical compliance needs, including EU REACH, EU CLP, GHS/SDS/MSDS/Label compliance, and EU Microplastics (SPMs) Regulations.
| Support Area | What REACH24H Supports |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Applicability Assessment | Assess whether detergents, surfactants, microbial products, refill products or end-user surfactants fall within Regulation (EU) 2026/405. |
| Formula and Ingredient Review | Review surfactant biodegradability, polymer films, high-concentration organic substances and other ingredients that may trigger new requirements. |
| Labeling and SDS Compliance | Support physical labels, digital labels, ingredient disclosure, SDS review and alignment with EU CLP and GHS requirements. |
| DPP Readiness | Assist with DPP data mapping, product identifiers, data carrier planning, Declaration of Conformity and technical documentation preparation. |
| Supply Chain Compliance Strategy | Clarify the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers, distributors, authorized representatives, refill operators and online sellers. |
Recommended Reading
EU's New Detergents and Surfactants Regulation: (EU) 2026/405 Explained
Proposal COM(2025)531: EU's Digital Labeling Revolution in CLP Regulation
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