03 October 2025

EU stops the clock for the chemical industry – what does the “stop-the-clock” mechanism mean?

The chemical industry is one of the key sectors of the European economy. Its innovation, employment potential, and role in sustainable development make any new legislation on chemicals highly significant. This is especially true for changes to the CLP Regulation (Classification, Labelling and Packaging), which governs the classification, labelling, and packaging of chemical substances and mixtures across the EU.

In September 2025, EU Member States approved the Council’s position to introduce the “stop-the-clock” mechanism. This measure postpones the entry into force of certain CLP amendments, giving businesses until 1 January 2028 to prepare for compliance instead of facing immediate obligations.

What is CLP and why does it matter?

The CLP Regulation is fundamental to consumer, worker, and environmental safety. Changes to CLP can mean for companies:

updates to safety data sheets (SDS),
changes to labels and packaging,
adjustments in advertising and online sales,
investments in training and documentation.

The “stop-the-clock” mechanism provides businesses with more time, reducing the risk of errors and unnecessary costs linked to rushed implementation.

Which obligations have been postponed?

The CLP revision included new label formats and additional requirements for:

re-labelling chemical products,
advertising substances and mixtures,
online sales (e-commerce),
labelling at fuel distribution points.

Thanks to the “stop-the-clock” mechanism, these obligations have been postponed until 1 January 2028, preventing overlapping and confusing deadlines.

Why did the EU introduce “stop-the-clock”?

This decision is part of the Omnibus legislative simplification packages initiated by the European Commission. The objectives include:

reducing administrative burdens,
simplifying rules without lowering safety standards,
providing predictability for businesses,
strengthening EU competitiveness.

Under Omnibus VI, changes apply to three major areas: CLP, the Cosmetics Regulation, and fertilizer legislation.

Conclusion

The “stop-the-clock” mechanism shows that the European Union is responsive to business needs. Companies gain valuable time to implement changes, while health and environmental protection standards remain intact. At a time of increasing regulatory pace and legal uncertainty, this is a step toward a more competitive and predictable Europe.

Would you like to prepare your company for the upcoming CLP revision and understand what the changes mean for your products? Join PICTOPLAN’s training on CLP updates and new obligations – practical guidance for the chemical industry.