Council of the European Union and European Parliament 11 February 2026, Regulation (EU) 2026/405 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2026 on detergents and surfactants, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 (Text with EEA relevance)

Also known as

Regulation (EU) 2026/405 establishes a harmonised framework for the free movement of detergents and surfactants in the internal market while ensuring high levels of human health and environmental protection. Key provisions include mandatory ultimate aerobic biodegradability for surfactants, limitations on phosphorus content, safety requirements for detergents containing micro-organisms, and the introduction of digital product passports and digital labelling. The Regulation repeals Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 and applies from 23 September 2029, subject to specific transitional arrangements for existing stock.AI

European Union · · · Cited by 4 · 11-02-2026

CHAPTER I.
Article 1. Subject matter
Article 2. Definitions
CHAPTER II. PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS
Article 3. Making available on the market and free movement
Article 4. Biodegradability
Article 5. Detergents containing micro-organisms
Article 6. Limitations on the content of phosphates and other phosphorus compounds
Article 7. Animal testing
CHAPTER III. OBLIGATIONS OF ECONOMIC OPERATORS
Article 8. Obligations of manufacturers
Article 9. Authorised representative
Article 10. Obligations of importers
Article 11. Obligations of distributors
Article 12. Supply through refill
Article 13. Cases in which obligations of manufacturers apply to importers and distributors
Article 14. Packaging and repackaging by importers and distributors
Article 15. Identification of economic operators
Article 16. Confidentiality of the ingredients data sheet
CHAPTER IV. LABELLING
Article 17. General labelling requirements
Article 18. Forms of labelling
Article 19. Requirements for digital labelling
Article 20. Distance sales
CHAPTER V. DIGITAL PRODUCT PASSPORT
Article 21. Digital product passport
Article 22. Technical design and operation of the digital product passport
Article 23. Data carriers and unique identifiers
Article 24. Digital product passport registry
Article 25. Customs controls relating to the digital product passport
CHAPTER VI. MARKET SURVEILLANCE
Article 26. Procedure at national level for market surveillance of detergents and surfactants
Article 27. Union safeguard procedure
Article 28. Compliant detergents and surfactants which pose a risk to human health or to the environment
Article 29. Formal non-compliance
CHAPTER VII. DELEGATED POWERS AND COMMITTEE PROCEDURE
Article 30. Delegated powers
Article 31. Exercise of the delegation
Article 32. Committee procedure
CHAPTER VIII. TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 33. Penalties
Article 34. Reports and reviews
Article 35. Repeal of Regulation (EC) No 648/2004
Article 36. Transitional provisions
Article 37. Entry into force and application
ANNEX I. BIODEGRADABILITY CRITERIA AND TEST METHODS, REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 4

Official Journal
of the European Union

L series

2026/405

2.3.2026

REGULATION (EU) 2026/405 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 11 February 2026

on detergents and surfactants, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 648/2004

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the

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