Inspectors checking consumer products for hazardous chemicals

Helsinki, 13 March 2019 – The inspections under the first enforcement project for biocides (BEF-1) kicked off in January 2019 and will run throughout the year. Carried out in 28 EU and EEA countries, the inspections focus on treated articles for consumer and professional use. Inspected products include, for example, children’s and sports clothing, as well as products aimed for professional use such as building products, swimming pool equipment or personal safety equipment. Chemical mixtures such as paints and inks are also covered in these inspections.

Particular attention is paid to illegal use of non-approved active substances and to compliance with the labelling obligations.

For the pilot project under REACH and the CLP Regulation, inspections began in March 2019 and will run until autumn. Inspectors and customs authorities in the 16 participating EU Member States and EEA countries are working together to check whether imported products comply with certain restrictions under REACH regarding hazardous chemicals such as cadmium, nickel or lead. They are also verifying that chemical products are labelled with the required safety information.

Where products are found to be non-compliant, the import will be stopped and they will not be allowed to enter the EU market. The tighter collaboration between inspectors and customs authorities will also further enhance the protection of EU citizens from hazardous substances.

The final report for the pilot project under REACH and CLP is expected around mid-2020. The results of the BEF-1 project on treated articles and mixtures will be published towards the end of 2020.