Policy Priorities / chemicals policy
DetNet
How DetNet works
The Detergent Industry Network for CLP Classification (DetNet) is an industry-led platform that helps detergents manufacturers classify and label their products in accordance with the EU CLP Regulation, for skin and eye effects. It was developed by Detergents Europe in close dialogue with experts and stakeholders to support the correct application of CLP to detergents and cleaning products.
DetNet works as a data-sharing network. It gives participating companies access to robust test data and expertise, enabling them to apply CLP tools such as bridging principles, weight of evidence and expert judgement when classifying mixtures for skin and eye hazards. This provides an alternative to using the CLP calculation method alone and allows companies to derive classifications that better reflect the actual properties of detergent and cleaning product mixtures.
DetNet helps manufacturers, especially SMEs, arrive at the appropriate classification and label for their products, which carry hazard communication that is more meaningful for users.
DetNet is now a well-established and widely used industry initiative. The network includes data on nearly 2,000 classified mixtures and it includes 250 experts from 150 companies and over 3,400 classified detergent mixtures.
Industry perspective and Detergents Europe’s work
For the industry, DetNet is more than a technical database: it is a practical tool that supports consistent classification, meaningful hazard communication and regulatory predictability across the EU. By pooling data, expertise and best practices, it helps companies classify detergent mixtures in a way that reflects real product characteristics and use conditions, rather than relying only on calculation outcomes.
Consumer safety
Under CLP, manufacturers must label a product before placing it on the market when it contains one or more substances classified as hazardous above a certain threshold.
