The GB Detergent Regulation imposes certain labelling obligations for detergent products placed on the Great Britain market. Examples of products falling under the scope of detergent products include household cleaning agents, industrial detergents, laundry and dishwashing detergents, and liquid soaps containing surfactants.
The purpose of detergent product labelling is to provide detailed information about the products and ensure that medical personnel are informed about the potential health concerns during emergency interventions.
Chemleg assists you in labelling your products in compliance with legal regulations through its GB Detergent Product Labelling service.
Who Is Subject to the Labelling Obligations?
According to the Regulation, any natural or legal person established in Great Britain or Northern Ireland who is responsible for placing the detergent product on the GB market must comply with the labelling requirements.
What Are the GB Detergent Label Requirements?
According to the Article XI of EU Regulation No 648/2004 together with Annex VII of the GB Detergent Regulation, the following information must be included on the label or packaging of detergents placed on the market:
- name and trade name of the detergent
- name, full address, and telephone number of the party responsible for placing the product on the Great Britain market
- the address, e-mail address (where available), and telephone number where the ingredient data sheet that must be made available to medical personnel can be obtained
- website address where the list of ingredients of the detergent is provided for consumers
- instructions for use and any special precautions, if applicable
- for consumer laundry detergents and consumer automatic dishwasher detergents, additional requirements apply.
Labelling of Contents
- Detergents must list the contents of certain substances in specific weight percentage ranges if added in concentrations above 0.2%.
- Some ingredients, such as enzymes, disinfectants, perfumes, and optical brighteners, must always be listed regardless of concentration.
- Names of allergenic fragrances listed in the retained Cosmetics Products Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 must be included on the label if present at greater than 0.01% by weight
- For a perfume the word ‘parfum’ shall be used and for a colouring agent, the word ‘colorant’.
Chemleg Prepares Your Labels in Compliance with the GB Detergent Regulation
Chemleg offers fully compliant labelling services under the GB Detergent Regulation. This service includes:
- Regulatory-Compliant Label Design: Labels are prepared in accordance with the GB Detergent Regulation and the CLP Regulation.
- Content Verification: Product ingredients and dosage instructions are checked against legal requirements.
- Multilingual Labelling: In addition to English, which is the mandatory language for detergent labels in Great Britain, multiple languages may be used when preparing labels to suit your export markets.
With its industry experience and expertise, Chemleg helps your company confidently operate in the Great Britain market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GB label the same as the EU label?
While the GB regulation remains broadly consistent with the EU framework, it is progressively implementing its own amendments and publishing regulatory updates to reflect national priorities.
Is English labelling mandatory?
Yes. All products placed on the Great Britain market must be labelled clearly and in English. This includes technical terms, safety warnings, and ingredient declarations.
Which products are covered under the GB Detergent Regulation?
Household cleaning agents, industrial detergents, laundry and dishwashing detergents, liquid soaps, and general cleaning products containing surfactants are included.
Which ingredients must be listed on detergent labels?
Annex VII.A of the Detergent Regulation specifies the information to be included on the label regarding the product composition. If ingredients such as surfactants, phosphates, or aliphatic hydrocarbons are present above 0.2% by weight, they must be listed on the label. Our experts can assist in determining these requirements.
At what concentrations must other specific ingredients (e.g. enzymes, detergents) be listed?
Names of allergenic fragrances listed in the retained Cosmetics Products Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 must be included on the label if present at greater than 0.01% by weight.
Are there specific labelling requirements for consumer laundry detergents?
Yes, consumer laundry detergents must display specific information on their packaging. This includes the recommended dosage for a standard machine load in soft, medium, and hard water, the capacity of the measuring cup (if provided) in ml or grams, and the number of standard laundry loads based on medium water hardness.
Are labelling requirements different for industrial and institutional detergents?
For detergents intended to be used in the industrial and institutional sector, and not made available to members of the general public, the abovementioned label requirements do not have to be fulfilled if the equivalent information is provided by means of technical data sheets, safety data sheets, or in a similar appropriate manner.
