Retained EU Law
2004
United Kingdom
Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on detergents (Text with EEA relevance)
At a glance
What's here
7 compliance obligations
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
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Manufacturer
5
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Any Person
1
Plus 1 non-business duty on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Manufacturers
also bound by 82 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Any Person
also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
s.art004
Limitations based on the biodegradability of surfactants
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Ensure surfactants in industrial or institutional detergents meet biodegradability limits or obtain derogation
Manufacturer
s.art005
Granting of derogation
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Apply for derogation to use non‑biodegradable surfactants
Manufacturer
s.art006
Conditions for granting a derogation
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
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Competent authority must assess and publish derogations for detergents
Statutory regulator
s.art008
Approved laboratories
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Use only approved laboratories for required tests
Any Person
s.art009
Information to be provided by manufacturers
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Maintain test results, technical files, and ingredient datasheets for detergents
Manufacturer
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Provide required detergent label information on packaging
Manufacturer
s.art015
Safeguard clause
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Comply with provisional measures on detergent risk
Manufacturer
Browse 37 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.annex/ii/paragraph/1
Primary biodegradability is measured by the determination in biodegraded liquors...
s.annex/ii/paragraph/2
The pass criterion for primary biodegradability shall be a level...
s.annex/ii/paragraph/3
The reference method for the laboratory testing of surfactants in...
s.annex/viii/paragraph/1
The following test and analytical methods apply to control procedures...
s.annex/viii/paragraph/2
annex/VIII/paragraph/2
s.annex/viii/paragraph/3
A Storage vessel B Dosing device C Aeration chamber (three...
s.annex/viii/paragraph/4
annex/VIII/paragraph/4
s.annex/viii/paragraph/5
A Liquid level B Hard PVC C Glass or waterproof...
s.annex/viii/paragraph/6
annex/VIII/paragraph/6
s.annex/viii/paragraph/7
A Running-in period B Period used for calculation (twenty-one days)...
s.annex/viii/paragraph/8
annex/VIII/paragraph/8
s.annex/viii/paragraph/9
annex/VIII/paragraph/9
s.annex/vi/paragraph/1
The following detergent surfactants have been identified as not complying...
s.annex/vi/paragraph/2
Name in the IUPAC nomenclature EC Number CAS number Limitations...
s.annex/vi/paragraph/3
The ‘ EC number ’ means the Einecs, ELINCS or...
s.annex/v/paragraph/1
By way of derogation granted in accordance with Articles 4-6...
s.annex/v/paragraph/2
Name in the IUPAC nomenclature EC Number CAS number Limitations...
s.annex/v/paragraph/3
The ‘EC number’ means the Einecs, ELINCS or NLP number...
s.annex/v/paragraph/4
‘Einecs’ means the European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances....
s.annex/v/paragraph/5
‘ELINCS’ means the European List of Notified Chemical Substances. The...
s.annex/v/paragraph/6
‘NLP’ means No-Longer Polymer. The term polymer is defined in...
s.art001
Objectives and scope
s.art003
The placing on the market
s.art003
Qualifying Northern Ireland goods
s.art004
Limitations on the content of phosphates and of other phosphorus compounds
s.art007
Testing of surfactants
s.art010
Control measures
s.art012
Committee procedure
s.art013
Power to amend the Annexes
s.art013
Exercise of the delegation
s.art014
Free movement clause
s.art017
Legislation to be repealed
s.art019
Entry into force
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Health and Safety Executive
Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates …
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