EU DETERGENTS AND SURFACTANTS REGULATORY NEWS
On 8 December 2025, the Council of the European Union gave its final approval to the updated Detergents and Surfactants Regulation. The final act was subsequently published as Regulation (EU) 2026/405 on 2 March 2026 and, with limited exceptions, will apply from 23 September 2029.
What Did the Council Approve?
The Council's final approval completed a key stage in the legislative process for replacing Regulation (EC) No 648/2004. The updated framework is intended to modernise EU rules for detergents and surfactants while retaining protections for human health and the environment.
At a high level, Regulation (EU) 2026/405 addresses:
Detergents containing intentionally added micro-organisms and the development of product-specific safety requirements;
Refill and distance sales, including information that must remain available to users;
Digital labelling and a Digital Product Passport for detergents and end-user surfactants;
Biodegradability and technical-documentation requirements, including a framework for future criteria covering specified ingredients and materials; and
Economic-operator and market-surveillance responsibilities across the detergent and surfactant supply chain.
This article records the approval and publication milestone. For the detailed implementation timeline, Digital Product Passport, conformity assessment, biodegradability provisions and economic-operator duties, see REACH24H's Regulation (EU) 2026/405 explainer.
What Happened After Final Approval?
The Council decision was followed by formal adoption and publication of the final legal text. The main milestones are:
| Date | Regulatory Milestone |
|---|---|
| 8 December 2025 | The Council of the European Union gave its final approval to the updated Detergents and Surfactants Regulation. |
| 2 and 22 March 2026 | Regulation (EU) 2026/405 was published on 2 March and entered into force on 22 March 2026. |
| 23 September 2029 | Most provisions apply and Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 is repealed, subject to the new regulation's exceptions and transitional provisions. |
Current position: Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 remains the principal applicable detergents framework during the transition. Companies should therefore maintain current compliance while preparing affected portfolios for the requirements that begin to apply in 2029.
What Should Detergent Suppliers Do Next?
Manufacturers, brand owners, importers and non-EU suppliers should use the transition period to determine which products, documents and supply-chain arrangements need to change. Immediate priorities include:
Confirm product scope: Identify conventional detergents, end-user surfactants, refill products, detergents containing micro-organisms and products whose intended use or claims may trigger another regulatory pathway.
Map current and future requirements: Review formulation data, surfactant biodegradability evidence, physical and digital labelling, SDS, UFI and Poison Centre Notification duties where applicable, and future Digital Product Passport and technical-documentation needs.
Prioritise the portfolio: Coordinate transition work according to launch dates, target Member States, economic-operator roles, available evidence and the complexity of each product group.
For product-specific support, REACH24H's EU detergent compliance and market access services cover product-scope assessment, formula screening, classification and labelling, SDS review, UFI generation and Poison Centre Notification support where applicable, and transition planning for Regulation (EU) 2026/405.
Preparing Detergent Products for the EU Market?
Share your product type, intended use, formulation, claims, supply-chain role and available SDS, label or test reports. REACH24H can assess the likely regulatory pathway and priority transition needs.
Recommended Reading
EU Detergents Regulation (EU) 2026/405: Key Changes and Timeline
EU Cleaning Product Classification: Detergent, Biocidal Product or Cosmetic?
