New eco labelling for detergents

DETERGENTS used in Cyprus now carry new labelling and biodegradability requirements now that Cyprus has implemented the latest European regulation on detergents.

The new directive was passed in the house on October 8, 2005, and is in the process of being written into the national legislation.

Acting head of Health Services George Georgallas told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that the law, which replaces the previous 2002 law on detergents, mostly deals with labelling issues and the restrictions on certain substances in the detergents.

The law places certain biodegradability requirements on surfactants in detergents and calls for additional labelling on detergents, including on fragrance allergens.

The law covers fabric softeners, dishwasher detergents, and laundry soap among other things.

Phileleftheros reported Wednesday that violators of the new law, which includes importers, could face up to a year or jail or a fine up to £6,000 but Georgallas said that Legal Services has yet to establish the penalties for violating the regulation.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.