On November 28th the European Commission released its 2019 edition of the Consumer Conditions Scoreboard. It shows that the overall gap in consumer conditions is narrowing between the different regions of the EU; that consumers are more aware about their environmental footprint; and that consumer rules enable trust in the marketplace. Věra Jourová, EU Commissioner for […]
Potentially deadly electrical products available on Amazon and eBay, safety charity investigation finds
Amazon and eBay have been accused of failing to stop the sale of unsafe electricals after a safety charity found ‘potentially deadly’ items advertised. Electrical Safety First found that of 15 products it bought and tested from the two sites, as well as the online marketplace Wish, 14 failed tests against UK standards. The failures […]
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 […]
UV Protective Clothing in the EU since April 21, 2019 classed as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that needs to be CE marked
It’s always summer somewhere in the world and the growing demand for ultraviolet (UV) protection garments has created a market that can be exploited throughout the year. How can manufacturers ensure their products are safe and compliant with regional requirements? Public awareness of the dangers of excessive exposure to the sun has resulted in some […]
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 […]
Sunglasses With No UV Protection Among Products Stopped by Irish Consumer Watchdog
42 consignments totalling more than 33,000 products were prevented from entering the Irish market last year. More than 33,000 products, including toys and sunglasses, were prevented from entering the Irish market last year amid safety concerns, the consumer watchdog has said. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), working with the Revenue’s Customs Service, examined […]
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 […]