Using and manufacturing washing and cleaning products

Do you produce, sell, or use detergents professionally? In the Netherlands washing and cleaning products (detergents) must comply with the EU Detergents Regulation. This regulation focuses on the environment, biodegradability, and labelling.

Labelling of detergents

Are you a manufacturer or supplier of washing and cleaning products? Your products must meet the requirements for product safety within the EU. You must, for example, provide information to consumers and professional users about good and safe use of the product. You have to include certain information on the label, for example:

• ingredients, preservatives, and perfumes
• instructions for use
• dosage instructions
• hazard description (hazard symbols)

Information on ingredients

You must also have a website where consumers can find information on the products’ ingredients. Manufacturers must draw up an Ingredient Data Sheet (IDS) for health care workers, containing a list of components.

Use of detergents

Do you or your staff work with detergents? These may contain corrosive or irritant substances. You must provide a safe working environment, therefore you should draw up a Risk Inventory and Evaluation (RI&E). For your employees, you can put information on the (safe) use of cleaning products in a workplace information card (WIK). The Foundation for the Council for Industrial Relations in the Cleaning and Window Cleaning Sector (Stichting Raad voor Arbeidsverhoudingen Schoonmaak- en Glazenwassersbranche, RAS) provides the WIK-maker which you can use to draw up a WIK (in Dutch).

Washing and cleaning products and the environment

The EU regulation on detergents states the rules for protection of the environment. Among other things the regulation specifies requirements on biodegradability of surfactants in your product. The regulation also describes how this should be tested.