The European Union has updated its chemical safety regulations with an important change affecting distributors. Here's what you need to know:
What's changing for you as a distributor?
Starting January 1, 2027, distributors of hazardous chemicals will need to notify poison centers about your products in certain situations. This applies when you:
- sell products in other EU countries.
- Rebrand products under your own name.
- Relabel products with new information.
Why this matters?
Previously, only manufacturers and importers had to report their hazardous products to poison centers. This created a safety gap - poison centers sometimes lacked critical information about rebranded products or those sold across borders. The new rule helps ensure emergency services can respond effectively if someone is exposed to these chemicals.
What do you need to do if you're a distributor?
You have two options:
- Submit your own notification to poison centers, including:
- Product trade names
- UFI codes (Unique Formula Identifiers)
- Countries where products are sold
- Work with your suppliers to include this information in the supplier's notification. In this case, you as a distributor should:
- Get written confirmation from suppliers.
- Keep records showing the products are properly registered.
- Save documentation of successful submissions.
Staying compliant is paramount to your business
While the rule officially starts in 2027, you should remember that you as a distributor can only sell products that fully comply with EU chemical regulations. It's recommended to start preparing now by:
- Reviewing your product portfolio.
- Talking with your suppliers about notification plans.
- Setting up systems to track and document compliance.
The goal is simple: ensure emergency services have accurate information about every hazardous product on the market, no matter who sells it or under what name.
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