The EU Council has confirmed its negotiating position on the proposed regulation for the classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) of chemicals.

The proposed CLP regulation will update and clarify the current EU rules on classifying and labelling chemical substances along with specifying the required information on chemicals that are sold online.

The CLP updates will ensure that these labels, including digital labels, are clear and easy to understand, and will further provide a high level of protection against chemical hazards.

The revised regulation is an updated version of the 2008 regulation and will further ensure that all relevant businesses and associated actors provide clearer information on hazards related to chemicals available in the European market.

For chemicals sold online, these businesses are required to communicate any hazards related to their chemicals via simpler labelling such as 'a minimum font size for labels of chemicals and use to be made of fold-out labels'.

In the case of refillable chemicals, the council has also made specific rules to properly refill chemical products at dedicated refill stations.

To support this effort, the council said its negotiating mandate 'strikes a balance' between encouraging a refill system and kerbing risks associated with refilling chemicals.

Sweden's Climate and Environment minister Romina Pourmokhtari said: “We want rules for the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals to be fit for the digital and green transitions, allowing consumers, companies, and workers to purchase and use chemical products in a safer, better informed and more sustainable way.

“Today’s decision is an important step forward in this direction, and an important milestone in the implementation of the EU chemicals strategy.”