Ingredients Labelling Recommendation (89/542/EEC)
Objective
This is not a Directive but rather a Recommendation, with the objective to provide consumers with compositional and dosage instructions through an ingredient label on the package, bottle or container. The Recommendation provides product composition information as well as optimal dosage instructions - the aim of which is to protect the environment.
Background
Compositional data are provided in a general frame formulation format, which is sufficiently informative yet meets the confidentiality requirements of the manufacturer.
The following ingredients must be specified, if their level in the product is higher than 0.2%: Phosphates, Phosphonates, Anionic - Cationic - Nonionic surfactants, Oxygen-based bleaching agents, Chlorine-based bleaching agents, EthyleneDiamineTetraAcetate or EDTA, NitriloTriAcetate or NTA, Phenols and halogenated phenols, Paradichlorobenzene, Aromatic hydrocarbons, Aliphatic hydrocarbons, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Soap, Zeolites and Polycarboxylates. The concentration ranges at which these ingredients are specified are: less than 5, 5-15, 15-30 or more than 30%. Enzymes, preservatives and disinfectants should be indicated for their presence, without further specifying amounts. Other ingredients do not need to be specified.
The following ingredients must be specified, if their level in the product is higher than 0.2%: Phosphates, Phosphonates, Anionic - Cationic - Nonionic surfactants, Oxygen-based bleaching agents, Chlorine-based bleaching agents, EthyleneDiamineTetraAcetate or EDTA, NitriloTriAcetate or NTA, Phenols and halogenated phenols, Paradichlorobenzene, Aromatic hydrocarbons, Aliphatic hydrocarbons, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Soap, Zeolites and Polycarboxylates. The concentration ranges at which these ingredients are specified are: less than 5, 5-15, 15-30 or more than 30%. Enzymes, preservatives and disinfectants should be indicated for their presence, without further specifying amounts. Other ingredients do not need to be specified.
Implementation
Manufacturers must list on their products the above mentioned ingredients, as specified, as well as optimal dosage instructions. The Authorities monitor all detergents in the trade for the presence of the required information and the accuracy of the compositional information.