Today, the Council set its position on the remaining part of the so-called “Omnibus VI” package, a proposal to simplify rules in the field of chemical products, while maintaining a high level of protection for consumers and the environment. The draft legislation simplifies certain provisions related to the classification, packaging, and labelling of chemicals, cosmetics products and fertilising products. “The chemical industry is key for innovation, jobs and sustainable growth in Europe. Today, we took a first step towards reducing administrative burdens and increasing resilience for the industry, while protecting consumers and the environment. I hope for a swift agreement with the Parliament to bring legal certainty to businesses and boost the sector’s competitiveness.” | | — Marie Bjerre, Minister for European affairs of Denmark |
“With today’s negotiating mandate, we are ensuring that consumers remain protected while simplifying the rules for businesses. Strong consumer protection is at the heart of responsible regulation, and Denmark will continue to work for high standards in the upcoming negotiations on simplifying EU regulation. Simplification must never come at the expense of consumers’ health.” | | — Magnus Heunicke, Minister for environment and gender equality of Denmark |
The Council’s mandate follows the agreement between the co-legislators on the ‘stop-the-clock’ mechanism which postpones to 1 January 2028 the date of entry into application of the revised regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals (CLP regulation). The current targeted proposal modifies three pieces of EU’s chemical legislation: - the CLP regulation, which was revised in 2024
- the 2009 cosmetic products regulation, and
- the 2019 fertilising products regulation
In view of its significant implications for suppliers and European companies, the Council has treated this proposal with utmost priority aiming to provide the EU companies the necessary legal certainty on their obligations. Key elements of the Council’s mandateThe Council maintained the general scope of the Commission proposal when it comes to simplifying the formatting requirements for labels, advertisements and distance sales of chemicals. The Council’s mandate retains the "digital by default" approach as a common element of simplification. The Council consistently focused on removing duplication of requirements and streamlining the timelines. The text of the Council’s mandate is more protective to consumers concerning the use of nanomaterials and potential hazardous substances in cosmetic products. On fertiliser products, it requires registration of micro-organisms used in fertilising products for up to 10 tonnes annual quantities. CLP regulation In the Council’s mandate, the text aligns the definition of ‘digital contacts’ with the Council mandate on the proposals in the ‘Omnibus IV’ package on digitalisation and common specifications. The mandate, however, reintroduces the requirement for a telephone number but allows for digital options to provide flexibility for suppliers. The text of the Council’s mandate clarifies and simplifies the requirement of readability of labels, while ensuring appropriate font size relative to the size of the label. The mandate also seeks to reduce the information requirements for advertisements, particularly for professional users. On distance sales offers, the mandate maintains the general labelling exemption for business-to-business sales, except for online sales, where the exemption only applies if the website or mobile application is not accessible to the general public. Cosmetic products regulationThe time given to companies to stop selling cosmetics with Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, and Reprotoxic (CMR) substances has been shortened from the original Commission proposal but is still longer than the deadlines in the current rules. The Commission proposal on the exemption of CMR substances based on oral or inhalation route of exposure is deleted in the Council’s mandate. Finally, in response to the member states’ concerns regarding the protection of human health and the environment, the mandate re-introduces a notification for nanomaterials in cosmetic products, which shall be made prior to the cosmetic product being placed on the market, and not six months prior as today. Fertilising products regulationTo address the member states’ concerns on potential environmental risks from new micro-organisms, the mandate further clarifies the role of accredited notified bodies. For assessing criteria and methodologies, the inclusion of scientific bodies, either the Joint Research Centre (JRC) or the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), has been added. The mandate also re-introduces a REACH registration obligation for substances subject to harmonised classification for certain particularly harmful substances. Finally, on digitalisation, the text seeks to align the definition with the Council’s mandate for the ‘Omnibus IV’ package.
Next stepsFollowing today’s approval by the member states’ representatives, the presidency can start negotiation with the European Parliament to reach a final agreement.
BackgroundIn October 2024, the European Council called on all EU institutions, member states and stakeholders, as a matter of priority, to take work forward, notably in response to the challenges identified in the reports by Enrico Letta (‘Much more than a market’) and Mario Draghi (‘The future of European competitiveness’). The Budapest declaration of 8 November 2024 subsequently called for ‘launching a simplification revolution’, by ensuring a clear, simple and smart regulatory framework for businesses and drastically reducing administrative, regulatory and reporting burdens, in particular for SMEs. Between 26 February and 9 July 2025, as a follow-up to EU leaders’ call, the Commission put forward six ‘Omnibus’ packages, aiming to simplify existing legislation on sustainability, investment, agriculture, small and mid-caps, digitalisation and common specifications, defence readiness and chemical products.
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