EU: Reform of the EU chemicals law paused

 

The Council of the European Union has given its approval to the so-called “stop-the-clock” mechanism on chemicals, a measure intended to provide businesses with greater legal certainty.

On the previous day, representatives of the member states endorsed the Council’s stance on one of the European Commission’s proposals designed to simplify EU legislation and thereby strengthen the Union’s competitiveness in the chemical products sector. This initiative, commonly referred to as the “stop-the-clock” mechanism, defers until 1 January 2028 the application date of the revised regulation concerning the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals (the CLP regulation). Furthermore, the proposal modifies the deadlines related to relabelling obligations, formatting requirements, advertising rules, distance selling provisions and the labelling of fuel pumps.

The measure belongs to the “Omnibus VI” package, which the Commission adopted at the beginning of July 2025 as part of its wider effort to streamline EU law in the area of chemicals. Given the far-reaching consequences for industry, the Danish presidency placed this proposal high on its list of priorities, with the specific objective of ensuring that EU companies enjoy clarity regarding their responsibilities under the law.

Member states have largely echoed the urgency expressed by the presidency. They have therefore backed the Commission’s initiative to shift the application date to 1 January 2028 for obligations concerning formatting standards, advertising practices and distance selling in relation to chemical products. This adjustment is expected to give economic operators the legal certainty they require and, at the same time, prevent the undesirable situation of having two separate application dates for similar requirements introduced by different amendments to the CLP regulation.

A rapid agreement between the EU co-legislators would also allow sufficient time for negotiations on the more substantive revisions to the CLP regulation that the Commission has tabled as part of the “Omnibus VI” legislative package on chemicals.

The decision to delay the revised CLP regulation is in line with a broader recent trend within the EU of stepping back from ambitious regulatory reforms. Similar postponements or recalibrations have occurred in other areas, including supply chain due diligence, corporate sustainability reporting and the regulation on deforestation.

Background to the issue

In October 2024, the European Council called upon EU institutions, member states and stakeholders to advance work as a matter of urgency, particularly in response to the challenges highlighted in the reports authored by Enrico Letta (“Much more than a market”) and Mario Draghi (“The future of European competitiveness”). Following this, the Budapest Declaration of 8 November 2024 urged the launch of a “simplification revolution” by creating a clearer, more straightforward and business-friendly regulatory framework and by significantly reducing administrative, regulatory and reporting burdens, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Between 26 February and 9 July 2025, acting on this political mandate, the Commission presented six “Omnibus” packages designed to simplify existing legislation in a range of fields: sustainability, investment, agriculture, small and mid-cap enterprises, digitalisation and common specifications, defence readiness and chemical products.

The “Omnibus VI” package specifically addresses simplification of provisions in three major EU regulations in the field of chemicals while ensuring that a high level of protection is maintained. The regulations targeted for amendment are:

• Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, together with the revised CLP Regulation (EU) 2865/2024,
• Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, and
• Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 on the placing on the market of EU fertilising products.

To find out more about chemical compliance in the EU, do not hesitate to contact the Product Compliance Institute.