New EU packaging rules since August 2026: what changes for labels and chemical products

Since 12 August 2026 the EU Packaging Regulation (EU) 2025/40, the PPWR, applies. In Germany the Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG) replaced the previous Packaging Act at the same time. For manufacturers and importers of cleaning products, air fresheners, candles or technical chemicals, the new packaging rules meet the changes to the CLP Regulation, and in the end both appear on the same label.

What changes: some examples

• Substances in packaging: lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium together may not exceed 100 mg/kg. Food contact packaging also has limits for PFAS.
• Evidence: packaging requires a conformity assessment and an EU declaration of conformity with technical documentation.
• Packaging labelling: from 12 August 2028 at the earliest, harmonised information on material composition will be added so that consumers can sort packaging correctly.
• Recycling: from 2030 packaging must in principle be recyclable; plastic packaging must contain minimum shares of recycled content, with exceptions, for example for certain packaging for dangerous goods.
• Germany: registration in the LUCID packaging register and participation in a take-back system remain, but the obligations are reassigned and extended to further types of packaging.

Where packaging law and CLP meet

The CLP Regulation has also been revised. After the postponement by Regulation (EU) 2025/2439, new rules apply from 1 January 2028 to the label format (for example minimum font sizes), to fold-out labels and to information in advertising and online offers. Already from 1 January 2027, certain distributors must submit their own poison centre notifications, for example if they sell a product under their own name.

For many products this means: the same packaging must in future fit hazard labelling, UFI, detergents information and new packaging information, legibly and complete in every language. If you revise your labels thoroughly now, you will not have to touch them several times until 2028.

What this means for your products

Which obligations apply depends on product, packaging, role in the supply chain and target countries. Typical questions from our practice:

• Does your label still fit on the packaging with the new minimum font size, or do you need a fold-out label?
• Who notifies from 2027 if you sell a product under your own brand?
• Which evidence do you need for your packaging, and what does your supplier ask of you?

We check your labels and packaging information together with classification, safety data sheet and poison centre notification and tell you what you need to change by when. Simply write to us about the products concerned.