The European Union has launched formal trilogue negotiations on the 'Omnibus VI' package, aimed at reducing regulatory burdens and boosting competitiveness in the chemical sector. For overseas buyers of cosmetics and chemical products exported to the EU, the outcome will directly impact compliance costs and ingredient management strategies, making close monitoring essential.
Legislative background and cost savings
According to KOTRA, the European Parliament confirmed its negotiating position on Omnibus VI on April 29, 2026. With the Council having adopted its mandate in November 2025 and the Commission proposing the bill in July 2025, all three institutions are now ready for final negotiations. The package targets adjustments to the CLP, Cosmetics, and Fertilizer Regulations, aiming to save industry at least €363 million (approximately 633.7 billion KRW) annually in compliance costs.
Key dispute: CMR substances in cosmetics
The most contentious issue is the management of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) substances in cosmetics. The Commission proposed a lenient approach allowing exceptions when exposure is only oral or inhalational, but both the Council and Parliament oppose this on consumer safety grounds. Parliament has proposed stricter alternatives with transition periods ranging from 3 to 48 months, depending on safety assessments and the availability of substitutes.
Nanomaterial notification requirements
Another core dispute involves nanomaterial notification. The Commission proposed abolishing pre-market notification to reduce company burdens. However, the Council and Parliament insist on maintaining the obligation, only adjusting the timing to "just before market placement." This means exporters of products containing nanomaterials should prepare for continued reporting duties.
Digitalization and administrative simplification
There is broad consensus on digitalizing CLP labels, simplifying label information for small packaging, and reducing duplicate REACH burdens for fertilizer products. Parliament has added safety measures such as specifying minimum font heights (e.g., 1.2 mm) based on product volume to ensure consumer readability. These changes will streamline logistics and labeling for importers.
What buyers should watch
Amendments to ban PFAS and endocrine disruptors in cosmetics were rejected in plenary. The EU also confirmed it will prioritize limited modernization and market surveillance over a full REACH revision, keeping the current registration and evaluation framework intact for now. A KOTRA official advised that while regulatory simplification is the trend, consumer safety provisions are tightening. Exporters of cosmetics and chemical products to the EU should review raw material management systems in anticipation of final legislative outcomes.
Source: Read the original report | Published: May 16, 2026