{"id":10267,"date":"2025-11-27T08:00:37","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T05:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/eu-delays-new-chemical-labelling-rules-until-2028\/"},"modified":"2025-11-27T10:54:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T07:54:20","slug":"eu-delays-new-chemical-labelling-rules-until-2028","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-delays-new-chemical-labelling-rules-until-2028\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Council Delays New Chemical Labelling Rules Until 2028"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The European Council has approved a plan to postpone the application of the updated EU rules for the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals. The decision pushes the start date to <strong>1 January 2028<\/strong> and is intended to provide legal certainty and reduce pressure on businesses, including packaging suppliers that rely on clear regulatory timelines to plan redesigns and relabeling.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-delays-new-chemical-labelling-rules-until-2028\/#A_Pause_to_Support_Competitiveness\" >A Pause to Support Competitiveness<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-delays-new-chemical-labelling-rules-until-2028\/#Why_the_Delay_Matters\" >Why the Delay Matters<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-delays-new-chemical-labelling-rules-until-2028\/#Part_of_a_Broader_Simplification_Push_Omnibus_VI\" >Part of a Broader Simplification Push: Omnibus VI<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-delays-new-chemical-labelling-rules-until-2028\/#Next_Steps_in_the_Legislative_Process\" >Next Steps in the Legislative Process<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-delays-new-chemical-labelling-rules-until-2028\/#Impact_on_the_Packaging_Industry\" >Impact on the Packaging Industry<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/eu-delays-new-chemical-labelling-rules-until-2028\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Pause_to_Support_Competitiveness\"><\/span><strong>A Pause to Support Competitiveness<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Member states signed off on the Council\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.consilium.europa.eu\/en\/press\/press-releases\/2025\/09\/24\/simplification-council-approves-stop-the-clock-mechanism-on-chemicals-to-provide-legal-certainty-to-businesses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">position<\/a> as part of the Commission\u2019s wider effort to simplify EU chemical legislation. The measure, baptized as the \u201cstop the clock\u201d mechanism, <strong>delays the entry into application<\/strong> <strong>of the revised <\/strong>CLP Regulation and adjusts related<strong> timelines<\/strong> for relabeling, formatting requirements, advertisements, distance sales and the labelling of fuel pumps.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Danish Minister for European Affairs, Marie Bjerre, noted that the decision supports innovation and jobs across the EU\u2019s chemical sector and helps reduce unnecessary burdens while maintaining consumer protection.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_the_Delay_Matters\"><\/span><strong>Why the Delay Matters<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/eli\/reg\/2024\/2865\/oj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Regulation (EU) 2024\/2865<\/a>, which amends the long-standing CLP framework, contains detailed <strong>rules<\/strong> on<strong> label placement, minimum font size, color use, and how labels interact with recycled packaging materials<\/strong>. It also clarifies where <strong>digital labels<\/strong> may appear and when <strong>fold out labels<\/strong> can be used if standard formats are impractical.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Industry groups and policymakers signaled <strong>concern<\/strong> that the initial deadlines, set for mid-2026 and early 2027, would create heavy administrative and financial burdens, <strong>especially for SMEs<\/strong>. Delaying the application date gives businesses time to redesign packaging lines, update artwork, adapt digital labelling systems and manage stock already in circulation.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Part_of_a_Broader_Simplification_Push_Omnibus_VI\"><\/span><strong>Part of a Broader Simplification Push: Omnibus VI<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The postponement is part of the EU\u2019s \u201cOmnibus VI\u201d package, introduced in July 2025 to create simpler, clearer rules for chemical products. The package aims to reduce administrative load across multiple sectors and responds to calls from EU leaders for a \u201csimplification revolution\u201d to boost European competitiveness.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Omnibus VI includes changes to three major laws: \u00a0the CLP Regulation, the cosmetics regulation and the fertilizing products regulation<\/strong>. The Council stressed that delaying the CLP application date avoids businesses having to navigate conflicting timelines from parallel amendments to the same regulation.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-10264 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/EU-Council-Delays-New-Chemical-Labelling-Rules-Until-2028-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"EU Council Delays New Chemical Labelling Rules Until 2028\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/EU-Council-Delays-New-Chemical-Labelling-Rules-Until-2028-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/EU-Council-Delays-New-Chemical-Labelling-Rules-Until-2028-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/EU-Council-Delays-New-Chemical-Labelling-Rules-Until-2028-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/EU-Council-Delays-New-Chemical-Labelling-Rules-Until-2028-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/EU-Council-Delays-New-Chemical-Labelling-Rules-Until-2028-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Next_Steps_in_the_Legislative_Process\"><\/span><strong>Next Steps in the Legislative Process<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the Council\u2019s negotiating mandate <strong>approved<\/strong>, the Danish presidency will enter talks with the European Parliament to finalize the amendment. The extra time is also expected to help co-legislators reach agreement on broader substantive changes to the CLP that are still under review.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Impact_on_the_Packaging_Industry\"><\/span><strong>Impact on the Packaging Industry<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For packaging manufacturers, the postponement provides <strong>clarity<\/strong>. Companies now have a more realistic window to <strong>prepare compliant labels<\/strong>,<strong> manage transitions<\/strong> to recycled or alternative materials, and <strong>update digital systems<\/strong> without rushing costly changes. The delay also helps avoid waste by reducing the risk of packaging stock becoming obsolete before it reaches the market.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Council\u2019s approval to postpone the new chemical labelling rules to January 2028 is seen as a step in making a more predictable and manageable regulatory implementation. For the packaging industry, the decision offers welcome breathing room and aligns with the EU\u2019s broader drive to cut unnecessary burdens while keeping safety standards high.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The European Council has approved a plan to postpone the application of the updated EU rules for the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals. The decision pushes the start date to 1 January 2028 and is intended to provide legal certainty and reduce pressure on businesses, including packaging suppliers that rely on clear regulatory timelines&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":10265,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en","category-advocacy-enforcement-en","category-28","category-543","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10267"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10268,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10267\/revisions\/10268"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}