FLUKE
Kimball Electronics
Tolomatic
Industrial Scientific
AHEAD
roboception
FLUKE
Kimball Electronics
Tolomatic
Industrial Scientific
AHEAD
roboception
By Acquis Compliance | Fri Dec 15 2023 | 2 min read

Table of Contents

ECHA Forum's Enforcement Project Uncovers Widespread Violations of EU Chemical Laws in Consumer Goods

In a sweeping enforcement initiative across the European Union (EU), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Forum has exposed distressing levels of hazardous chemicals in various products destined for consumers. The project, conducted by national enforcement authorities in 26 EU countries, scrutinized over 2,400 products, revealing that a staggering 18% of them violated EU chemical laws.

Electrical Devices and Toys at Forefront of Violations

Electrical devices, including toys, chargers, cables, and headphones, emerged as the most common culprits, with a staggering 52% found to be non-compliant. The violations primarily stemmed from lead in solders, phthalates in soft plastic components, and cadmium in circuit boards. Meanwhile, sports equipment like yoga mats, bicycle gloves, and rubber handles of sports gear exhibited a non-compliance rate of 18%, attributed to substances like SCCPs, phthalates, and PAH found in various components.

Toys, ranging from bathing/aquatic toys to dolls and play mats, constituted 16% of the non-compliant products. Phthalates in soft plastic parts were the primary issue, alongside other restricted substances such as PAHs, nickel, boron, or nitrosamines. Fashion products, including bags, jewelry, belts, shoes, and clothes, were also under scrutiny, with 15% of them found non-compliant due to the presence of phthalates, lead, and cadmium.

EU Enforcement Measures and Market Withdrawals

In instances where non-compliance was identified, inspectors took swift enforcement measures, resulting in the removal of the offending products from the market. The comprehensive nature of the inspections underscores the commitment to safeguarding consumers from exposure to hazardous substances.

Country of Origin: Non-Compliance Higher in Products Outside the EEA

Notably, the non-compliance rate was markedly higher in products originating from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or those with unknown origins. This highlights the importance of stringent checks on products entering the EU market to ensure adherence to chemical regulations.

Background of the ECHA Enforcement Project

The enforcement project, conducted in 2022, specifically targeted compliance with EU chemical regulations, including REACH restrictions, duties applicable to substances in articles under REACH, POPs restrictions, and directives related to Toys and the RoHS. The collaboration between national enforcement authorities aimed to assess the conformity of various products available on the EEA market, emphasizing the importance of adherence to chemical regulations for the safety of consumers and professional users alike.

Topics

BulletinEuropean Union RegulationsREACHPOPs

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EU-Wide Enforcement Reveals Alarming Levels of Hazardous Chemicals in Consumer Products

major project (REF‑10), conducted across 26 EU/EEA countries in 2022, reviewed over 2,400 consumer products—including electrical goods, toys, garments, and sports equipment. The overall non‑compliance rate was 18% , with the highest violations found in electrical items (52%) due to lead, phthalates, or cadmium. Articles from outside the EEA showed a 21–22% non-compliance rate, compared to 8% for EEA-origin products.
Violations occurred across several EU chemical laws: RoHS Directive : 49% non‑compliance REACH : 13% non‑compliance Toys Directive : 10% POPs Regulation : 9% These reflected issues like lead in solder, restricted phthalates in plastics, and persistent organic pollutants.
Authorities issued written warnings in about 60% of cases. Additionally, 39% of the affected products were prohibited from market placement, while 29% were removed from online listings. In many cases, companies voluntarily withdrew items before further action
A separate ECHA enforcement initiative found that 35% of checked SDSs failed to meet EU regulatory requirements—indicating widespread issues in chemical hazard communication.
In 2023, ECHA conducted 301 full compliance checks covering over 1,750 dossiers and 274 unique substances. While 70% of submissions passed, approximately 30% were flagged for deficiencies or enforcement follow‑up.
ECHA is pushing a “one substance, one assessment” regulatory model, collaborating with EU bodies and OECD. In 2024, 47 new substance groups were flagged for regulatory action, and toolbox upgrades—especially in IUCLID and dossier screening—saw significant enhancements.
ECHA highlighted challenges in regulating micro- and nano-sized materials due to gaps in validated testing methods. It called for research on new approach methodologies (NAMs) to assess long‑term hazard and bioaccumulation of nanomaterials.