Danish Protection Agency Repeals Chemical Restriction on Phthalates in Consumer Products

HONG KONG, China - Aug. 1, 2014 - PRLog -- Chemical Regulations – Restriction on Phtalates in Denmark

In October 2012, Demark implemented a national restriction on 4 forms of phthalates (bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzylbutyl phthalate (BBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)) in specific consumer products. The new law was going to be enforced in December 2013 but was postponed to December 2015.

On 1 July 2014, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Denmark cannot maintain the national restriction on the 4 phthalates. This was the result of a new ruling from the so-called Lapin Judgment from the European Court of Justice where a member state cannot adopt national rules in chemistry in parallel with the EU while the EU is in the process of evaluating the need for rules at the EU level. This in effect lifted the restriction on the 4 phthalates in Denmark.

For more information, the Denmark executive order 1113 of 26. October 2012 is summarized in a table within the latest SafeGuards bulletin (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/0...).

Restriction on Phtalates and REACH Regulation

In a parallel action Danish authorities have notified ECHA that Denmark intends to propose that the 4 phthalates (which are already on the REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern based on their reprotoxic properties) are also designated as endocrine disruptors. Determination processes of safe thresholds differ between endocrine-disrupting and reprotoxic chemicals and Denmark hopes to tighten the authorized use of the 4 phthalates by industry with this new approach.

References:

- SafeGuards N.205/12 (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/0...) – December 2012
- SafeGuards N.99/13 (http://mst.dk/service/nyheder/nyhedsarkiv/2014/jul/forbud...) – June 2013
- Prohibition of Four Phthalates Repealed, Danish EPA, 1 July 2014 (http://mst.dk/service/nyheder/nyhedsarkiv/2014/jul/forbud-mod-fire-ftalater-ophaeves/) and references therein

About SGS Services for Toys and Juvenile Products

Throughout a global network of laboratories, SGS can provide a range of services, including consultancy and analytical testing for restricted substances (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Hardgoods/Home-Furnishings-and-Houseware/RoHS/RoHS-Testing.aspx) in consumer products for the EU and international markets.

Please do not hesitate to contact an SGS expert for further information.

Website: www.sgs.com/hardgoods

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.