Detergents & Surfactants Regulation published — DPP mandatory from September 2029

Regulation (EU) 2026/405 was published today. It replaces the 2004 rules and introduces a mandatory DPP and digital labelling.

The Detergents and Surfactants Regulation (EU) 2026/405 was published today in the Official Journal, following Council approval on 8 December 2025. It replaces Regulation (EC) 648/2004, in force for two decades.

Headline changes

Mandatory Digital Product Passport for all detergents and surfactants placed on the EU market.
Digital labelling allowed as an alternative to physical labels for most information — but critical safety information (dosage, allergens, emergency handling) must remain on the physical label.
Streamlined interaction with CLP — the revised regulation removes overlaps with the Classification, Labelling and Packaging rules.
Biodegradability thresholds tightened with sector-specific transition periods.

Timeline

11 February 2026 — publication in the Official Journal.
23 September 2029 — general application, including the DPP obligation. Biodegradability provisions follow separate timelines.

Foundation guidance

The 3.5-year lead time to the general application date is generous compared with other sector regimes. Use it for:

Cleaning up ingredient data at component-supplier level.
Choosing between the digital-label-only and digital-plus-physical route (split depends on your packaging and consumer base).
Standardising on the CIRPASS data model with the detergents profile so you do not rebuild when horizontal ESPR delegated acts arrive.

See the detergents sector page for the detailed data-point list and carrier guidance.