Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

ANNEX VII U.K. LABELLING AND INGREDIENT DATASHEET

A. Labelling for contents U.K.

The following provisions on labelling shall apply to the packaging of detergents sold to the general public.

The following weight percentage ranges:

• less than 5 %,

• 5 % or over but less than 15 %,

• 15 % or over but less than 30 %,

• 30 % and more,

shall be used to indicate the content of the constituents listed below where they are added in a concentration above 0,2 % by weight:

• phosphates,

• phosphonates,

• anionic surfactants,

• cationic surfactants,

• amphoteric surfactants,

• non-ionic surfactants,

• oxygen-based bleaching agents,

• chlorine-based bleaching agents,

• EDTA and salts thereof,

• NTA (nitrilotriacetic acid) and salts thereof,

• phenols and halogenated phenols,

• paradichlorobenzene,

• aromatic hydrocarbons,

• aliphatic hydrocarbons,

• halogenated hydrocarbons,

• soap,

• zeolites,

• polycarboxylates.

The following classes of constituent, if added, shall be listed irrespective of their concentration:

• enzymes,

• disinfectants,

• optical brighteners,

• perfumes.

If added, preservation agents shall be listed, irrespective of their concentration, using where possible the common nomenclature established under Article 8 of Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products(1).

If added, as such, at concentrations exceeding 0,01 % by weight, the allergenic fragrances that appear on the list of substances in Annex III, Part 1 of Directive 76/768/EEC, as a result of its amendment by Directive 2003/15/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(2) to include the allergenic perfume ingredients from the list first established by the Scientific Committee on Cosmetics and Non Food Products (SCCNFP) in its opinion SCCNFP/0017/98, shall be listed using the nomenclature of that Directive, as shall any other fragrances that are subsequently added to Annex III, Part 1 of Directive 76/768/EEC by adaptation of that Annex to technical progress.

If individual risk-based concentration limits for the fragrance allergens are subsequently established by the SCCNFP, the Commission shall propose the adoption, in accordance with Article 12(2), of such limits to replace the limit of 0,01 % mentioned above.

For detergents intended to be used in the industrial sector, and not made available to members of the general public, the abovementioned 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.

B. Labelling for dosage information U.K.

As prescribed in Article 11(4), the following provisions on labelling shall apply to the packaging of detergents sold to the general public. The packaging of detergents sold to the general public intended to be used as laundry detergents shall bear the following information:

• The recommended quantities and/or dosage instructions expressed in millilitres or grams appropriate to a standard washing machine load, for soft, medium and hard water hardness classes and making provision for one or two cycle washing processes;

• For heavy-duty detergents, the number of standard washing machine loads of ‘normally soiled’ fabrics, and, for detergents for delicate fabrics, the number of standard washing machine loads of lightly-soiled fabrics, that can be washed with the contents of the package using water of medium hardness, corresponding to 2,5 millimoles CaCO₃/l;

• The capacity of any measuring cup, if provided, shall be indicated in millilitres or grams, and markings shall be provided to indicate the dose of detergent appropriate for a standard washing machine load for soft, medium and hard water hardness classes.

The standard washing machine loads are 4,5 kg dry fabric for heavy-duty detergents and 2,5 kg dry fabric for low-duty detergents in line with the definitions of Commission Decision 1999/476/EC of 10 June 1999 establishing the Ecological Criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to Laundry Detergents.(3) A detergent shall be considered to be a heavy-duty detergent unless the claims of the manufacturer predominantly promotes fabric care i.e. low temperature wash, delicate fibres and colours.

C. Ingredient datasheet U.K.

The following provisions shall apply to the listing of ingredients on the datasheet referred to in Article 9(3).

The datasheet shall list the name of the detergent and of the manufacturer.

All ingredients shall be listed; in order of decreasing abundance by weight, and the list shall be sub-divided into the following weight percentage ranges:

• 10 % or more,

• 1 % or over, but less than 10 %,

• 0,1 % or over, but less than 1 %,

• less than 0,1 %.

Impurities shall not be considered to be ingredients.

The common chemical name or IUPAC(4) name, the CAS number, and, where available, the INCI(5) name, and the European Pharmacopoeia name, shall be given for each ingredient.

D. Publication of list of ingredients U.K.

Manufacturers shall make available on a website the ingredient datasheet mentioned above except for the following information:

• weight percentage ranges

• constituents of perfumes and essential oils,

• constituents of colouring agents.

This obligation shall not apply to industrial or institutional detergents containing surfactants, or to surfactants for industrial or institutional detergents, for which a technical data sheet or safety data sheet is available.

(1)

OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 169. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2003/83/EC (OJ L 238, 25.9.2003, p. 23).

(2)

OJ L 66, 11.3.2003, p. 26.

(3)

OJ L 187, 20.7.1999, p. 52. Decision as last amended by Decision 2003/200/EC (OJ L 76, 22.3.2003, p. 25).

(4)

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

(5)

International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient.