Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to ensure that information on hazardous materials are displayed on the labels of domestic cleaning products imported and sold online by traders selling at distance.

The direct acting European Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 on the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures – the CLP Regulation - and Regulation (EC) No. 648/2004 on detergents - the Detergents Regulation – both require information on hazards and safe use to be displayed on the labels of domestic cleaning products that are imported into the UK.

The CLP Regulation also requires that where consumers can purchase a substance or mixture placed on the EU market without seeing the label first, such as online, then the advertisement for it must mention the types of hazard indicated on the label. On online sales, the Health and Safety Executive works closely with Local Authority Trading Standards Officers, other national enforcing authorities and with online platforms to remove online products from sale in the UK/EU that do not comply with legal requirements.

Enforcement of labelling requirements under the Detergents Regulations falls to Trading Standards Services within Local Authorities. Trading Standards Officers also enforce the CLP Regulation in relation to retail consumer products such as domestic cleaning products that are sold to the public.