Brussels mulls upgrade for chemical labelling
Chemicals danger - Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
(BRUSSELS) - The EU Commission launched a public consultation Wednesday on the simplification and digitalisation of labelling of chemical products such as glues, laundry and dishwashing detergents, fertilising products.
The aim will be to improve the communication of essential information on chemicals and in so doing reduce hazardous chemicals' adverse effects on health and the environment.
The initiative will consider simplifying and streamlining labelling requirements for some categories of chemicals and chemical products, and the use of digital labelling.
The initiative also sets out to increase the cost-effectiveness and overall competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.
Labels accompanying products are the primary means to communicate essential information to users, including hazard and safety information and product use-instructions.
However, a 'fitness check' of the most relevant chemicals legislation (excluding REACH) and the evaluation of the Detergents Regulation showed that label comprehension and consequently consumer protection can be further improved by avoiding that labels are overloaded with information, which is often technical.
The public consultation will gather feedback on experience and opinions from consumers, professional product users, industry, civil society organisations, national authorities and any other interested parties.
The results will feed into the Commission's considerations for proposals on a revision of the Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP), and Detergents and Fertilising Products Regulations, expected in 2022.
The public consultation is open until 16 February 2022.
Consultation - Chemicals - simplification and digitalisation of labelling requirement