On July 8, 2025, the European Commission officially submitted a new legislative proposal, COM(2025) 531, to amend Regulations (EC) No 1272/2008, (EC) No 1223/2009, and (EU) 2019/1009 (CLP Regulation). The proposal delays the implementation of certain chemical labeling, advertising, and remote sales requirements to January 1, 2028, in response to strong industry calls to reduce regulatory burdens.
Background
On November 20, 2024, the EU enacted Regulation (EU) 2024/2865, introducing a digital labeling system and related requirements. During the "Reality Check" online consultation held on May 16, 2025, over 570 representatives from industries, consumer organizations, legal sectors, and national regulatory authorities voiced concerns. Stakeholders widely called for a "pause" on parts of the new rules, arguing they would be difficult to implement—and costly—in multilingual, multi-supply-chain environments. Following the consultation, the Commission received more than 150 position papers supporting the delay.
Key Revisions
1. Extended Implementation Timelines
- Postpone label format requirements (e.g., font size, line spacing), advertising/remote sales obligations, and fuel pump labeling provisions originally scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2028.
- Delay the mandatory label format rules originally set for January 1, 2027, to the same 2028 deadline.
2. Simplified Labeling Requirements
- Relax label format rules: Eliminate overly strict requirements for minimum font size and line spacing to enhance flexibility.
- Allow digital labels: Expand the scope of information permitted in digital formats to reduce reliance on physical labels.
- Remove fixed 6-month update deadlines: Replace the mandatory 6-month label update rule with a "without undue delay" standard to accommodate complex supply chains.
3. Exemptions for Small Packaging
- Clarify that packaging smaller than 10 milliliters is exempt from labeling requirements to ease compliance costs for SMEs.
4. Digital Contact Information
- Labels must include digital contact details for suppliers, defined as "any up-to-date and accessible online communication channel that allows direct engagement with the supplier without requiring registration or app downloads."
5. Fuel Pump Label Adjustments
- Simplify and delay fuel pump labeling requirements, such as removing impractical or costly elements like supplier names, quantities, and Unique Formula Identifiers (UFI).
6. Streamlined Advertising & Remote Sales Rules
- Reduce mandatory hazard information in ads, retaining only critical warnings.
- Narrow the scope of advertising/remote sales obligations, particularly for public-facing products, to avoid overlap with REACH Regulation.
Next Steps
The proposal has been submitted to the European Parliament and Council of the EU for review under the ordinary legislative procedure. If approved, the revised rules will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal. The Commission emphasized that this delay does not alter the regulation’s core objectives or compromise public health and environmental protections. Unmodified provisions will still take effect as originally planned in 2026 or 2027.
Further Information
