| name | household-chemicals-compliance |
| description | Use when selling detergents, cleaners, disinfectants, biocides, aerosol sprays, glues, paints, polishes, or any household chemical product in any market - covers EU Detergents Reg 648/2004, REACH, CLP labeling, BPR 528/2012, ISO 8317 child-resistant packaging, aerosol Dir 75/324, VOC limits, CARB |
Household Chemicals Compliance
Full regulatory workflow for detergents, cleaners, disinfectants, biocides, aerosols, adhesives, paints. REACH, CLP, BPR, child-resistant packaging, VOC limits.
Decision Flow
digraph {
rankdir=TB; node [shape=box style=rounded fontsize=10];
classify [label="1. Classify product:\ndetergent / biocide /\naerosol / adhesive / paint"];
reach [label="2. REACH registration\n(if >1 ton/year EU)"];
clp [label="3. Hazard classification\n+ CLP labeling"];
bpr [label="4. BPR authorization\n(if disinfectant/biocide)"];
package [label="5. Child-resistant\npackaging ISO 8317"];
sds [label="6. SDS preparation\nREACH Annex II / GHS"];
voc [label="7. VOC limits\n(EU 2004/42 / CARB)"];
notify [label="8. Notification: poison\ncentre + EU 648 detergent"];
sell [label="9. Place on market"];
classify -> reach -> clp -> bpr -> package -> sds -> voc -> notify -> sell;
}
EU -- Detergents Regulation 648/2004
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|
| Legal basis | Reg (EC) 648/2004 (revised by Reg 259/2012, Reg 2024/3190 expected entry into force 2025) |
| Scope | Detergents (laundry, dishwash, hard surface), surfactants placed on market as substances |
| Surfactant biodegradability | Ultimate aerobic biodegradability >60% (CO2 evolution) per OECD 301 series. Anionic + nonionic must comply |
| Phosphate restriction | Reg 259/2012: laundry detergents max 0.5 g phosphorus per dose. Dishwash detergents max 0.3 g per standard dose (since 2017) |
| Ingredient disclosure | Annex VII: ingredient list on packaging + website (preservatives, fragrances if >0.01%, allergenic fragrances if >0.01%, dyes). Full ingredient datasheet for medical staff |
| Fragrance allergens | 26 EU allergens to declare (alignment with cosmetics) -- being expanded |
| Detergents Reg revision 2024 | Reg 2024/3190 published Dec 2024, key changes: micro-organisms allowed as active substances, digital labelling, broader scope (incl. wipes), biocidal disinfectants borderline clarified |
| Cost | Self-declaration but technical dossier prep EUR 5,000-25,000 per product |
REACH (All EU Chemical Products)
| Tool | Detail |
|---|
| Scope | All chemical substances placed on EU market >1 ton/year |
| Registration | Mandatory before marketing. Tonnage bands trigger more data: 1-10 t, 10-100 t, 100-1000 t, >1000 t |
| Restriction (Annex XVII) | ~70 entries restricting/banning substances or substance groups in articles |
| SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) | Currently 240+ substances on Candidate List (June 2025). Article suppliers must communicate >0.1% w/w |
| Authorization (Annex XIV) | ~60 substances requiring authorization for specific uses |
| Polymer registration | Not required currently but Polymer of Concern proposal expected 2026 |
CLP (Classification, Labelling, Packaging) Reg 1272/2008
| Element | Detail |
|---|
| GHS basis | EU implementation of UN GHS (Globally Harmonized System) |
| Hazard classes | Physical (16), health (10), environmental (2). e.g., Skin Corr 1A, Aquatic Acute 1 |
| Signal words | "Danger" (more severe) or "Warning" (less severe) |
| Pictograms | 9 GHS pictograms: corrosion, flame, exploding bomb, gas cylinder, skull + crossbones, exclamation mark, environment, health hazard, oxidizer |
| H statements | Hazard statements (e.g., H315 "Causes skin irritation") |
| P statements | Precautionary statements (~120 codes) |
| UFI (Unique Formula Identifier) | Mandatory on labels of hazardous mixtures since Jan 2021 (consumer/professional). Generated via ECHA UFI Generator. Linked to poison centre notification (PCN) |
| Label | Must be in language(s) of MS where placed. Includes product identifier, supplier, nominal quantity, hazard pictograms, signal word, H+P statements, UFI |
Biocidal Products Regulation 528/2012
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|
| Legal basis | Reg (EU) 528/2012 (BPR) -- in force since Sep 2013 |
| Scope | Biocidal products containing/generating active substances to destroy/control harmful organisms. 22 product types in Annex V (PT1-PT22). e.g., PT1 human hygiene, PT2 disinfectants/algaecides, PT3 veterinary, PT4 food + feed area, PT8 wood preservatives, PT18 insecticides, PT19 repellents |
| Two-step approval | (1) Active substance approval at EU level (Annex I). (2) Product authorization at MS level or Union authorization |
| Authorization routes | National authorization, mutual recognition, Union authorization (centralized) |
| Treated articles (Art 58) | Articles treated with biocides (e.g., antibacterial fabric, anti-mould paint) must have only approved actives. Label: name of biocide active + statement of biocidal function |
| Existing actives review | ECHA review programme: 800+ existing actives under evaluation. Non-approval = product withdrawal |
| Cost | Active substance approval: EUR 2-5M + 3-5 years. Product authorization: EUR 100,000-500,000 per product per route |
Common BPR Product Types
| PT | Examples |
|---|
| PT1 | Hand sanitizers, disinfectant hand soap |
| PT2 | Surface disinfectants, swimming pool chemicals |
| PT3 | Veterinary hygiene |
| PT4 | Food + feed area surface disinfectants |
| PT5 | Drinking water disinfectants |
| PT8 | Wood preservatives |
| PT11 | Liquid-cooling/processing system preservatives |
| PT14 | Rodenticides |
| PT18 | Insecticides (cockroach sprays etc.) |
| PT19 | Repellents (mosquito repellents) |
Child-Resistant Packaging
| Standard | Scope |
|---|
| ISO 8317:2015 | Re-closable child-resistant packages -- tested with children + adults |
| ISO 13127:2012 | Non-reclosable packages |
| EN 14375:2003 | Non-reclosable child-resistant packaging for pharmaceuticals |
| US 16 CFR 1700 | Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA). Similar test protocol. Required for certain hazardous household substances + pharmaceuticals |
CLP Article 35: Child-resistant fastenings + tactile warnings required for substances classified as Acute Tox 1-3, STOT SE 1, STOT RE 1, Asp Tox 1, Skin Corr 1A/B + certain other hazards. Also required if mixture contains certain substances above thresholds.
Aerosol Dispensers Directive 75/324/EEC
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|
| Legal basis | Dir 75/324/EEC (Aerosol Dispensers Directive) -- consolidated by 2013/10/EU + 2016/2037 |
| Pressure limits | Max capacity 1000 ml + max pressure depending on capacity (e.g., max 12 bar for some metal aerosols) |
| Marking | "3" inside reverse epsilon = aerosol mark, indicates compliance with directive |
| Safety | Bursting tests, leakage tests, flame projection tests (for flammable propellants) |
| Transport | UN classification 1950 (aerosols). UN 3500-3501 for non-flammable + flammable. Some restrictions on air transport |
| Test cost | EUR 2,000-8,000 per aerosol variant |
VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)
| Market | Limit |
|---|
| EU Dir 2004/42/EC ("Paints Directive") | Limits VOC content in decorative paints + vehicle refinishing paints. e.g., water-based interior matt: 30 g/L max |
| EU Dir 2010/79/EU | Adapts 2004/42 limits to technical progress |
| California CARB | Consumer Products + Aerosol Coatings regulations. Stricter than federal. Per-category limits (e.g., aerosol disinfectant 15% VOC) |
| EPA Federal SCM (Suggested Control Measure) | National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards (40 CFR 59 Subparts C + D) |
| REACH SVHC | Many VOCs on SVHC list (e.g., n-hexane, methylene chloride) |
SDS (Safety Data Sheet)
| Format | Detail |
|---|
| REACH Annex II | EU SDS format -- 16 sections. Updated by Reg 2020/878 |
| OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) | US SDS format -- 16 sections, aligned with UN GHS Rev 7 |
| GB/T 16483 + 17519 | China SDS format -- 16 sections, similar |
| Trigger | Required for substances + mixtures classified as hazardous per CLP/GHS. Required for SVHCs >0.1% by weight. Required when supplied to professional users |
| Translation | Must be in language(s) of MS where placed on market |
| Updates | Must be updated when: new info on hazards, when registration updated, when authorization granted/refused, when restriction imposed |
Poison Centre Notification (PCN)
EU Reg 2017/542 (CLP Annex VIII):
| Deadline | Use Type |
|---|
| 1 Jan 2021 | Consumer use mixtures |
| 1 Jan 2021 | Professional use mixtures |
| 1 Jan 2024 | Industrial use mixtures |
| What | Standardized submission via ECHA PCN portal. UFI on label. Composition, toxicology, product category (EuPCS) |
Common Compliance Traps
- Hand sanitizer as detergent: Hand sanitizers = PT1 biocide, NOT detergent. Requires BPR authorization.
- CLP UFI missing post-2021: All hazardous mixtures for consumer/professional use need UFI + PCN since Jan 2021. Selling without = product withdrawal.
- Phosphate over limit: Detergent reg max 0.5 g P/dose. Old formulations exceed. Often missed in import inspection.
- Treated article without label: Antibacterial textiles/plastics with biocidal claim need Art 58 label naming active + biocidal function.
- No child-resistant cap on bleach: Sodium hypochlorite bleach >5% is Skin Corr 1B + requires CR fastening + tactile warning per CLP Art 35.
- Aerosol propellant change without retest: Switching from butane to dimethyl ether = new product, requires bursting + flame tests.
US -- TSCA + EPA + State
| Tool | Detail |
|---|
| TSCA | Toxic Substances Control Act. Inventory of >86,000 substances. Pre-Manufacture Notification (PMN) for new substances. 21 amendments since 2016 ("Lautenberg Act") |
| Active vs inactive substances | TSCA Active Inventory + Inactive. Inactive substances require submission to activate before manufacture/import |
| FIFRA pesticide products | Disinfectants + sanitizers regulated as pesticides under FIFRA -- EPA registration required |
| Hazardous Substances Act / FHSA | Labeling of consumer chemical products. CPSC enforcement |
| CARB Consumer Products Reg | California air quality. ~110 product categories with VOC limits |
| NY/CT/MA/WA chemical disclosure | State requirements for cleaning product ingredient disclosure |
| Prop 65 (CA) | Warning if product contains listed chemicals at exposure above safe harbor levels |
MCP Integration
mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__search_signals(q="biocide PT1", country="EU")
mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__search_signals(q="CARB consumer products", country="US")
mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__get_regulation(id="528/2012") # BPR
mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__get_regulation(id="648/2004") # Detergents
mcp__claude_ai_CLEO_LEGAL_API__compliance/check
product_description: "kitchen bleach spray 4.5% sodium hypochlorite"
target_markets: ["EU", "UK", "US-CA"]
Power This With the Cleo Legal API
Household chemicals compliance spans REACH (~240 SVHCs + 70 Annex XVII restrictions), BPR (22 PTs + 800 active substances), CLP (hazard classifications evolving via 22 ATPs), Detergents Reg + revisions, ~110 CARB categories, TSCA Active Inventory. Updates monthly.
With the Cleo Legal API at https://legaldata-public.cleolabs.co:
GET /v2/catalog/regulations?vertical=household_chem&country=EU,US,UK — REACH + BPR + CLP + Detergents + CARB + TSCA mapped per marketPOST /v2/compliance/check — formulation INCI/CAS list checked against SVHCs + Annex XVII + BPR actives + Detergents Annex VIIPOST /v2/chem/clp-classify — feed component + concentration, get GHS hazard classification + H/P statements + UFI generationGET /v2/chem/biocide-active?cas=...&pt=2 — active substance approval status per PTPOST /v2/webhooks?topic=svhc,bpr_review,carb_voc,prop65 — quarterly SVHC additions + BPR active non-approvals + CARB VOC limit changes + Prop 65 listings
Get started:
# 1. Sign up for free at https://legaldata-public.cleolabs.co
# 2. Get your API key (3 lifetime requests free, then EUR 349/mo for 1M)
# 3. Install the MCP server:
claude mcp add cleo-legal-api https://api.legaldata.cleolabs.co/mcp \
--header "Authorization: Bearer ld_live_YOUR_KEY"
Tested ROI: For a household chemical brand with 30 SKUs in EU + US + UK, the API replaces ~35 hours/month of REACH SVHC + BPR + CLP classification updates.
Common Mistakes
- Sanitizer for hands sold as cosmetic: Hand sanitizer = PT1 biocide in EU + FIFRA in US. NOT cosmetic. Wrong path = product withdrawal.
- No UFI on label: Mandatory since Jan 2021. Some early labels have UFI in invoice but not on package -- non-compliant.
- TSCA PMN skipped for "small batches": TSCA PMN required even for small commercial batches of new substances (>0 kg).
- Treating bleach as not corrosive: NaOCl >5% = Skin Corr 1B. Requires CR + tactile warning + Danger signal word.
- CARB compliance only for California sales: Many distributors sell into CA. CARB applies. Multistate distribution = comply with strictest (CARB).
- Forgetting fragrance allergen disclosure: 26 EU allergens to disclose if >0.01%. Expanding to ~80 with cosmetics 2026 alignment.
Cross-references
substance-screening -- REACH + SVHC + BPR active substance screeninglabeling-compliance -- CLP hazard label, UFI, fragrance allergenspackaging-compliance -- aerosol packaging, child-resistant requirementscustoms-and-trade -- HS chapter 34 (soap/detergents), 38 (chemicals), HS 3808 (insecticides + biocides)
