On 17 June 2026, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on simplifying the rules for the classification, labelling and packaging (Classification, Labelling, and Packaging – CLP) of chemicals, cosmetic products and fertilising products. These provisions are the remaining part of the so-called “Omnibus Package VI,” which simplifies regulations in the area of chemical products while maintaining a high level of protection for consumers and the environment.
The agreement is part of the European simplification agenda to strengthen competitiveness and ease the burden on companies. According to the Commission, the measures in the chemicals sector significantly reduce administrative costs and also increase legal certainty.
Overview of the agreements:
What changes are foreseen for the CLP Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008)?
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More flexible labelling requirements: The amendments focus on the requirements for the design and update frequency of labelling information. Companies will have more leeway in implementation.
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Readability standards for B2B labels: It was agreed to set general readability criteria in the business-to-business context, while retaining more safeguards for products aimed at the general public, such as minimum font sizes.
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Exemptions for small packages: The agreement also includes specific exemptions for the labelling of small packages, which could apply, among others, to printer ink cartridges. In this context, digital labels may be used only for small inner packaging if comprehensive information is provided in printed form on the outer packaging.
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Harmonisation of the transition period: under the agreement, additional months will be granted for updating the labelling.
What changes for cosmetic products (Regulation (EU) No 1223/2009)?
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Staggered phase-out deadlines for CMR substances: Differentiated transition periods will be introduced for the gradual discontinuation of the use of CMR substances (carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances). The length of the individual periods will depend on the respective hazard level.
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Support for substance substitution: The Commission will publish guidance on definitions and alternative substances for CMR substances to accelerate the transition to less hazardous alternatives.
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Labelling requirement for nanomaterials: The existing, comprehensive pre-market notification obligations for nanomaterials in cosmetic products remain in place.
What changes apply to fertilising products (Regulation (EU) 2019/1009)?
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Technical clarifications: The amendments to the Fertilising Products Regulation are primarily technical in nature and concern specific approval requirements for component materials that can be used in fertilising products to obtain CE marking.
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Modernisation of registration requirements: The Commission is tasked with updating the registration rules for fertiliser components. This particularly concerns substances such as microorganisms, animal by-products, polymers and other materials that are difficult to assign to existing component material categories (CMCs) and thus pose challenges for companies.
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Retention of REACH registration: The provisional agreement also maintains the REACH registration obligation for substances subject to a harmonised classification for certain particularly harmful substances.
Objective and context of Omnibus Package VI
Between 26 February and 9 July 2025, the Commission presented several so-called omnibus packages. The aim of these packages is to simplify EU rules in areas including sustainability, investment, digitalisation, defence readiness and chemical products, while reducing the administrative burden for companies. The chemicals package is the sixth of these simplification packages and is therefore referred to as “Omnibus Package VI”.
What’s next for the chemicals omnibus?
The provisional agreement must now be approved by the Council and the European Parliament and then revised by legal and linguistic experts so that it can be formally adopted by the two co-legislators in the coming weeks. The two co-legislators will work to formally adopt this omnibus package as soon as possible, i.e. during 2026.
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