Welcome to the Detergents Home Page
This page provides guidance and information on the UK implementation of Regulation European Community (EC) No 648/2004, which came into force on 8 October 2005.
Regulation 648/2004 on Detergents
As a Regulation (as opposed to a Directive) 648/2004 is “directly applicable” and applies throughout the European Union on its own, without the further need for domestic United Kingdom (UK) legislation.
However, domestic legislation will be made setting out the process for handling derogation applications and to provide for enforcement measures - including criminal penalties for breach of Regulation 648/2004.
The Detergents Regulations 2005 have been introduced setting out measures to enforce Regulation 648/2004. They came into force on 8 October 2005.
Regulations setting out the procedure for handling derogation applications will be introduced in 2006 following a round of public consultation carried out between November 2005 and February 2006.
