Chemycal has been acquired by 3E

Learn More

Inspectors find phthalates in toys and asbestos in second-hand products


Your substances

None

This news contains references also to other Substances


In an EU/EEA-wide project of ECHA’s Enforcement Forum, inspectors found hundreds of consumer products with illegal amounts of restricted chemicals. Every fifth toy inspected contained high levels of restricted phthalates.

The project report shows a relatively high number of products on the European market containing chemicals that are restricted under REACH. Inspectors in 27 European countries checked 1 009 mixtures, 4 599 articles and 17 substances. Overall, out of 5 625 targeted product checks, 18 % did not comply with the restrictions.

The most frequent breaches were: phthalates in toys (20 % of inspected toys contained Bis(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) at levels above those permitted), cadmium in brazing fillers (14 %) and asbestos fibres in products (14 %). The products containing asbestos – for example, catalytic heaters, thermos flasks, brake pads - were mostly second-hand and probably produced before the restrictions prohibiting the sale of products containing asbestos came into force.

Inspectors also found high concentrations of chromium VI in leather articles (13 % of the tested products) and cadmium in jewellery (12 %).

Overall, most of the breaches were found with products, which had origins that could not be identified (39 % of such products did not comply), followed by products imported from China (17 %).


CONTINUE READING ON echa.europa.eu

                   

Related News

Loading...