News Details

On 22 October 2026, the European Parliament adopted its first-reading position on the Chemicals Omnibus VI package, approving changes to the EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation. The amendments would simplify label formatting, extend certain relabelling deadlines and revise requirements for advertising and distance sales. The package also amends the cosmetics and fertilising products regulations.

Changes to Labelling and Hazard Communication

The approved text replaces detailed label formatting requirements with more flexible readability criteria, while retaining minimum font sizes for products supplied to the general public. Consumer labels would require a minimum x-height of 1.2 mm, reduced to 0.9 mm for packages containing no more than 125 ml.

Where new evaluation results lead to an additional hazard class, a more severe classification or new supplemental label information, suppliers would have to update labels without undue delay and no later than 15 months after obtaining or receiving those results. This replaces the six-month maximum introduced by the 2024 CLP revision.

The amendments also provide greater flexibility for small packaging and digital labelling. Suppliers would have to provide digital contact details, while telephone numbers could be made directly available through that contact.

Advertising requirements would distinguish between consumer products and products intended exclusively for professional or industrial users. Distance sales offers available to the general public would have to display the required label elements clearly and visibly.

Application Periods and Next Steps

The 2025 stop-the-clock amendment postponed specified requirements introduced by the 2024 CLP revision, including label formatting, relabelling, advertising and distance sales, to 1 January 2028. The text approved by Parliament would replace that date with an application period of 18 months after the new amending regulation enters into force. Supplier digital contact requirements and associated provisions would apply after 36 months. Separate transitional provisions would cover qualifying products already placed on the market.

These periods do not yet establish fixed calendar deadlines. Formal adoption by the Council of the European Union and publication in the Official Journal are still required. The regulation would enter into force on the twentieth day following publication.