The European Parliament has approved a delay to the application of the revised Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on the Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) of chemicals.
The new effective date for the updated regulation is 1 January 2028, replacing the previously scheduled 1 July 2026.
Business-Friendly “Stop-the-Clock” Mechanism
On 24 September 2025, the Council of the European Union approved a “stop-the-clock” mechanism under the Omnibus VI simplification package, allowing the transition period to be extended for businesses.
The European Parliament vote resulted in:
• 441 in favour
• 108 against
• 11 abstentions
This mechanism provides businesses with extra time to prepare for the revised CLP rules.
Implications for Industry and Compliance
With the extension in effect:
• Companies continue to apply current CLP rules (Regulation EC 1272/2008) until 1 January 2028.
• Obligations such as relabelling, SDS updates, distance sales compliance, and fuel-pump labelling are postponed.
• While immediate pressure is reduced, businesses are advised not to delay internal compliance plans to avoid bottlenecks ahead of the new deadline.
Next Steps and Regulatory Outlook
Following Parliament’s approval, formal adoption and publication in the Official Journal are required for the amended regulation to take full effect.
Businesses should:
• Monitor national transposition acts
• Stay in close contact with local chemical regulation authorities
• Continue preparatory measures to ensure readiness for 1 January 2028
Reference: European Parliament Press Release
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