Chain of Mishaps Drives Home Urgency of Europe's New Chemical and Packaging Rules

A series of chemical incidents across Switzerland and Germany this month has underscored the practical importance of a tightening regulatory landscape. In Zwönitz and Haiger on June 8, a damaged barrel leaked formaldehyde and a chemical reaction released a gas cloud. The same day, a decades-old gas cylinder of highly reactive chlorine trifluoride forced the evacuation of a residential area near ETH Zurich. These events, alongside growing concern over silica dust from engineered stone in Austria, are unfolding as authorities in Bern, Berlin, and Brussels introduce or prepare stricter obligations for firms handling chemicals and packaging.

The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) published updated details in early June on the notification process for new chemical substances. Companies must report novel substances before market entry, after which SECO evaluates risks to workers and sets protective measures. However, the bulk of compliance rests on employers: of roughly 250,000 registered products, most fall under self-monitoring. Businesses are required to conduct their own exposure and risk assessments. SECO provides information pages covering over 20,000 substances, and manufacturers must supply safety data sheets.

The recent chemical incidents across Europe are a sharp reminder of what can go wrong when hazardous substances are not properly assessed and controlled. Under UK COSHH regulations, every dangerous substance in your workplace must be identified, documented, and managed — yet many businesses still have critical gaps in their paperwork. A free COSHH Risk Assessment Toolkit gives you 43 customisable templates, checklists and toolbox talks to help you fulfil your legal obligations quickly and confidently. Get the free COSHH Risk Assessment Toolkit

Across the border, Germany's Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) is planning relief for farmers through a new bureaucracy-reduction law. The mandatory training interval for plant protection will lengthen from three to six years. Certain reporting duties under food and feed law and the Federal Veterinary Code are set to be abolished. The aim is to cut administrative hurdles for farmers and hemp producers. In the current EU funding period, no new eco-schemes will be introduced.

At the European level, digitalization of product information is advancing. On June 8, technical standards for a digital product passport were presented at the DPP4EU conference, building on the 2023 battery passport to create a global data ecosystem. Separately, the German Bundestag is working on implementing the EU Packaging Regulation. Core obligations, including submission of conformity declarations on recyclability and recycled content, take effect August 12. Germany's per capita packaging waste stood at about 215 kilograms in 2023, giving the rules added weight. Industry representatives describe the changes as a new era for affected companies.

The recent accidents reinforce the necessity of updated hazard assessments and proper handling. In Austria, regulators are weighing tighter controls on quartz composite worktops, whose dust is carcinogenic and can cause silicosis; Australia has already banned the material. As the regulatory net expands, companies across all three countries will need to adapt swiftly to avoid both safety incidents and compliance penalties.

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