The Detergents Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 went into effect in October 2005. The regulation establishes common rules to enable detergents and surfactants to be sold and used across the EU, while providing a high degree of protection to the environment and human health. 

It stipulates that surfactants used in detergents must be fully biodegradable. In addition, it regulates how products should be labelled with ingredient and dosage information in order to protect human health (e.g. skin allergies) and avoid overuse of detergents. 

This Regulation was updated by Regulation (EU) No 259/2012 which imposes a ban on inorganic phosphates in domestic laundry and dishwasher detergents. Laundry detergents manufacturers must comply with it since 30 June 2013 and dishwasher detergents manufacturers at the latest by 1 January 2017.

A.I.S.E.’s Detergents Working Group has published updated implementation guidelines for manufacturers to help them comply with the amended regulation. 

In the framework of the 2017 Commission ex-post review of the Detergents regulation, A.I.S.E. provided its input to the open public consultation.

Visit the European Commission’s page on Detergents here (archived on 2/02/2015 but containing all relevant past documents).