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REACH and CLP regulation update
1st of April 2026 Article by Anna Garbagna
The EU’s REACH and CLP regulationsare undergoing major revisions that will have a direct impact on the professional cleaning sector in Italy. ECJ’s Anna Garbagna tells us more.
The European regulatory framework on chemicals is undergoing a major update. The REACH and CLP regulations, which form the basis of the European Union’s chemical safety policy, are undergoing major revisions that will also have a direct impact on the professional cleaning sector in Italy. The cleaning sector is characterised by a strong presence of small and medium-sized enterprises, close links with the manufacturing sector and widespread use of detergents and complex chemical formulas.
As mentioned, the CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) Regulation is currently undergoing a significant review process. In recent years, several technical updates (ATPs) have been published that have changed the classification of numerous substances, many of which are used in commercial cleaning products. Added to this is the introduction of new hazard classes, and although some provisions will not come into full effect until 2028, companies are already being called upon to plan for the adaptation of labels, packaging and safety data sheets.
Impact twofold
For Italian companies in the sector, the impact is twofold. Detergent manufacturers must review the classification of mixtures, update safety data sheets in Italian and verify that labels comply with the new graphic and information requirements set out in the CLP Regulation. At the same time, companies that use chemicals for professional cleaning must ensure the products they purchase are correctly classified and that the hazard information is up to date and consistent, also in relation to the workplace safety obligations set out in Legislative Decree 81/08.
With regard to REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), attention is focused primarily on the evolution of restrictions and the updating of the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). The gradual inclusion of new substances, some of which are used as solvents or additives in industrial detergents, may entail communication obligations along the supply chain, restrictions on use and, in some cases, the need to replace certain raw materials.
In this context, the support provided in Italy by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy and the National Chemical Substances Centre of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health) is an important point of reference for companies.
Looking ahead, the European Commission has announced a comprehensive review of the REACH Regulation, with the aim of making procedures more efficient, strengthening health and environmental protection, and improving the competitiveness of European industry. Among the main changes expected are greater digitisation of information, the evolution of electronic safety data sheets and risk assessment increasingly focused on groups of substances.
For the industrial cleaning sector in Italy, these changes represent a challenge, but also an opportunity. Investing in regulatory expertise, training and product innovation can enable Italian companies to strengthen their competitiveness by developing increasingly safe, sustainable and compliant solutions in a market where chemical safety is set to become a key value driver.
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