Guides · Household chemicals
Exporting detergents and household cleaning products to Poland
Factories making dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, cleaners, air fresheners and similar household products.
In short
- Detergents must use biodegradable surfactants and list their ingredients as set by the EU Detergents Regulation; the full ingredient list must be available to the public.
- Hazardous mixtures need a CLP hazard label in Polish, a UFI code and a poison centre notification before sale, plus a safety data sheet in Polish for professional users.
- Chemical substances imported above 1 tonne a year must be registered under REACH by the importer or by an Only Representative of the manufacturer.
- Products that claim to kill germs or insects are biocides and need a separate authorisation.
Detergents rules today and from 2029
Today detergents are governed by Regulation (EC) No 648/2004: surfactants must be fully biodegradable, the label shows ingredient ranges, enzymes, preservatives, perfumes and allergens above set limits, and the manufacturer publishes a full ingredient list on a website. The new Detergents Regulation (EU) 2026/405 entered into force on 22 March 2026 and applies from 23 September 2029. It adds a digital product passport and allows some label information behind a QR code, and manufacturers outside the EU will need an authorised representative in the EU.
Hazard labels, UFI and poison centres
If the product is classified as hazardous under the CLP Regulation (most dishwasher and laundry products, many cleaners), the label must show pictograms, signal word, hazard and precautionary statements in Polish, and a 16-character UFI code. Before the first sale, the importer submits the composition to the poison centres through ECHA's portal. Some products also need child-resistant closures and a tactile warning. New CLP formatting rules (minimum font size, line spacing) apply from 1 January 2028.
REACH and biocides
REACH registration is the duty of the EU importer for each substance it imports above 1 tonne a year (in mixtures, counted per substance). A non-EU manufacturer can appoint an Only Representative in the EU to register instead, so that its importers do not have to.
Disinfectants, antibacterial cleaners and insect sprays are biocidal products under Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. They need an authorisation before sale; in Poland the competent office is the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products (URPL).
Packaging
The packaging rules (PPWR since 12 August 2026, BDO registration and packaging fees in Poland) apply as for food, see How to export food to Poland. Liquid laundry capsules have their own packaging rules under CLP (opaque outer packaging, bitter coating and a closure that children cannot easily open).
Official sources
- Detergents Regulation (EC) No 648/2004
- New Detergents Regulation (EU) 2026/405
- Classification, labelling and packaging (CLP), Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008
- ECHA poison centre notifications (UFI)
- Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40
- BDO waste and packaging register (Poland)
This guide is a plain-language overview, not legal, tax or customs advice. Rules change: check the official text and your product code before you ship.