The European Chemicals Agency has added five substances and revised one substance on the Candidate List. There are legal obligations placed on industry once a substance has been placed on this list. On January 23, 2024, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced the addition of five substances to the Candidate List of substances of very […]
Sweden proposes Chemical Tax on Clothing and Footwear products
The Swedish government is considering implementing a tax on clothing and footwear products containing SVHCs under EU REACH Regulations. In order to increase public finances and reduce the incidence or risk of exposure to, and spread of, substances in clothing and footwear that are harmful to the environment and human health, the Swedish government is […]
EU restriction of BPA in thermal paper enters into force
An EU-wide ban has entered into force on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in thermal paper. As of 2 January the substance cannot legally be placed on the market in thermal paper in a concentration equal to or greater than 0.02% by weight. In December 2016, the European Commission published a Regulation adding BPA, which is used in […]
Food contact Bamboo and Melamine products continue to face challenges in the European Union
Composite materials containing bamboo and melamine-formaldehyde resin are facing scrutiny in the EU. Recent risk assessments by the German Federal Institute of Risk Assessment (BfR) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reconfirm specific migration issues and use of questionable additives. In an earlier blog post we informed you about market surveillance activities and concerns relating […]
Companies need to improve communication of hazardous substances in products
A Forum pilot enforcement project in 15 participating countries has found that 12 % of inspected products contain substances of very high concern (SVHCs). The majority (88 %) of suppliers of these products are failing to communicate sufficient information to their customers about SVHCs in products they supply. Helsinki, 18 November 2019 – The results of the pilot […]
Risks from bio-based FCM need monitoring – UK research
Additional sources of migration possible from agri-food, processing Food contact materials made from animal or plant biomass can perform as well as plastic FCM, but there may be additional risks to consumers from chemicals and allergens migrating into food, according to a UK study. These include heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), natural toxins and […]
German BfR Proposes To Lower PAH Limits For Voluntary GS Mark Certification
The German BfR is proposing to strengthen the existing PAH limits to 0.2 mg/kg for Category 2 consumer products covered by the GS Mark. On August 9, 2019, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, BfR) announced the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in consumer products should be ‘as low as possible’. Measurement […]
EU Launches Mobile App To Check SVHC Info On Consumer Products
Patrokles QA Manager recommends that importers and retailers start to collect and manage SVHC Information to meet REACH obligations and avoid penalties – now. Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, or REACH, is a European Union legislation that aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can […]
Food Contact Articles Containing Bamboo Come Under EU Market Surveillance Scrutiny
Composite materials containing bamboo powder and melamine are facing strong headwinds on the EU market. Several issues, including excessive migration of formaldehyde and melamine, misleading advertising and use of potentially non-authorized additives have caught the attention of market surveillance and consumer stakeholders. Recently, there has been increased activity from market surveillance authorities to check food […]
RAPEX 2018 Annual Report – 2,257 Dangerous Product Alerts and 4,050 Follow-up Actions
The European Commission’s 2018 RAPEX Annual Report shows a stabilization in the number of dangerous product reports and follow-up actions for national authorities. The European Commission (EC) has released its 2018 RAPEX annual report. The EC’s 2018 RAPEX Annual Report notes stabilization in the number of notifications and member state follow-up actions. However, market surveillance […]