Postponing the implementation of a number of provisions of the European Chemicals Regulation
Brussels, 17 November / WAM / The European Council in Brussels, during the General Affairs Council meeting, approved new legislation requiring the postponement of the entry into force of a number of provisions of the Regulation on Classification, Labeling and Packaging of Chemicals (CLP), extending its application to January 1, 2028, giving the European chemical industry sector a longer period to adapt to the updated requirements approved in 2024.
This decision represents what is known as “Stop-the-clock” legislation, which is the first part of the sixth simplification package of European legislation introduced by the European Commission in July 2025.
Given the major and urgent impacts that the file has on companies, the Danish presidency treated the proposal as a top priority, and it was approved by lawmakers without any amendment to the Commission’s text.
Marie Bjar, Denmark’s Minister of European Affairs, said that the chemical sector is a cornerstone of Europe’s economy, driving innovation and growth and providing thousands of high-value jobs across the single market, stressing that adopting this measure saves time and legal certainty for companies, while allowing the introduction of the necessary simplifications to enhance the sector’s competitiveness while maintaining the highest safety standards.
The new law gives European legislators additional time to agree on the remaining fundamental amendments expected within the second part of the legislative simplification package, which is still under negotiation, and the Council approved its negotiating mandate on November 5, 2025.
Under the legislation, all deadlines for transitional provisions related to re-labeling, requirements for formatting labels, advertising, online and remote sales, as well as the labeling of fuel pumps, are postponed to January 1, 2028, after previously being set at July 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027, dates that companies, especially small and medium enterprises, said constituted a heavy enforcement burden.
The legislation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union in the coming days, and will enter into force 20 days after the date of its publication.
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