EU: EU lawmakers approved tighter rules yesterday on the labelling and testing of detergents, insisting that highly toxic substances such as phosphates used widely in eastern Europe should be phased out.
With EU legislation on detergents in the pipeline for more than a year, members of the European Parliament agreed on clear and compulsory labelling, grouping substances into categories to make them easier for consumers to recognise.
Phosphates from detergents released into rivers, lakes and coastal waters through household waste water are believed by some scientists to boost the growth of certain bacteria and algae which can be dangerous for animals and people. The new labelling rules will be the responsibility of manufacturers and include fragrance and preservation chemicals.