What Actually Changed in the New EU Detergents Regulation (And Why Some Companies Will Feel It More Than Others)

In the previous articles we talked about the new EU Detergents Regulation and why it’s more about data readiness than chemistry.

But that still leaves the obvious question: What actually changed compared to the 2004 Regulation?

Let’s look today at a few examples where companies will actually feel the difference.

1. Digital Product Passport (A detergent is no longer just a product — it’s also a dataset)

One of the biggest new concepts is the Digital Product Passport.

In simple terms, each detergent product will need a structured digital record containing compliance information. Just a label or PDF stored somewhere internally is not good anymore.

Under the old system, if an authority asked for information about a detergent, you would probably:

• search internal folders
• gather supplier declarations
• send Safety Data Sheets
• manually collect composition information
  

The new framework assumes something different: that this information already exists in a structured digital form.

Typical information expected to be available digitally includes:

• product identifier
• composition information
• responsible economic operator
• relevant compliance documentation
  

A simple test: If someone asked today for the full compliance dataset of one detergent product, could you deliver it quickly?

2. Stronger Market Surveillance (Especially for online sales and imports)

The EU is reacting to a problem authorities increasingly face: products entering the EU through online platforms or from outside the EU without fully complying with EU rules.

The new regulation strengthens tools authorities have to identify the responsible operator for a product.

For example:

If a detergent is manufactured outside the EU and sold through online marketplaces, there must now be a clearly identifiable economic operator established in the EU responsible for compliance.

That means authorities know exactly who to contact if something is wrong with the product.

3. Digital Labelling (Less clutter on the packaging)

Detergent labels have become crowded over the years.

Ingredient information, safety instructions, usage advice and manufacturer details all compete for space.

The updated regulation allows part of this information to be provided digitally.

For example:

A product label may include a QR code linking to extended ingredient information, instructions for use or multilingual content.

For companies, this raises a practical question:

Do you have a system that ensures the information behind that QR code is always accurate and up to date?

4. New Product Types (Microorganism‑based cleaning products)

The detergents market has evolved significantly since 2004.

Some modern cleaning products contain microorganisms that support the cleaning process.

The new regulation explicitly recognises these products and sets safety requirements for them.

Companies developing such products must now ensure additional documentation and safety considerations are in place.

5. Refill and Bulk Sales Models

Another example reflects how detergents are now sold.

Refill systems and bulk sales have become increasingly common in supermarkets and zero‑waste shops.

The new regulation introduces provisions addressing how product information must still be available when detergents are sold through refill systems.

For example:

Consumers must still be able to access key product information even when the detergent is dispensed into their own container.

6. Transparency of Ingredients

The regulation strengthens requirements for making ingredient information accessible.

Consumers and authorities should be able to obtain clearer information about components such as fragrances, preservatives or allergens.

This improves transparency but also means companies must ensure their ingredient information is maintained consistently across labels, documentation and digital sources.

So What Does This Mean?

If we zoom out, the pattern becomes clear.

The old regulation focused mainly on what a detergent contains.

The new one focuses more on:

• how information about the product is organised
• who is responsible for it
• how quickly authorities can verify compliance
  

Compliance is becoming more structured and more transparent.

Action Point

Pick one detergent product you sell and ask yourself three questions:

1. Where is the complete compliance information stored?

2. Who is responsible for maintaining that data?

3. Could you provide that information quickly if a regulator asked tomorrow?

If those answers are clear, the transition will feel manageable. If they are not, this is the moment to start improving the structure.

In the next article we will look at who is actually affected by the new regulation and what different companies should review first. And if you find yourself short with time you can share your challenges with me at Luka.Rifelj@bens-consulting.eu.