In a press release published on November 18, 2019, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced the results of a pilot enforcement project that found 12% of 682 inspected articles contained substances of very high concern (SVHCs) and that 88% of the suppliers of these products failed to communicate sufficient information to customers. The results were published within a final report from the project carried out by the Forum for Exchange of Information on Enforcement (Forum), which is a network of chemicals regulation enforcement agencies within Europe. 682 articles from 405 companies across 15 countries were inspected for SVHCs at concentrations above 0.1% by weight. Products inspected included “clothing, footwear and home textiles; wires, cables and electronic accessories; plastic or textile floorings; wall coverings; and other plastic and rubber products.”
Erwin Annys, Head of ECHA’s Support and Enforcement Unit, commented that “while nearly 90% of the products do not contain substances of very high concern above 0.1%, the report clearly shows a failure of communication in the supply chain. Improvement is needed if we want to make REACH work in all aspects, contribute to the objectives of the circular economy and to have a good database as required under the Waste Framework Directive.”
Read More
ECHA (November 18, 2019). “Companies need to improve communication of hazardous substances in products.”
Clelia Oziel (November 20, 2019). “Echa finds non-compliance in most articles with SVHCs inspected in EU.” Chemical Watch
Reference
ECHA (November 2019). “FORUM Substances in Articles Pilot project report.” (pdf)
