Thousands of hazardous products stopped at the Swedish border
In co-operation with the Swedish Customs, the Swedish Chemicals Agency inspected products to be imported into Sweden. Thanks to these controls, electronics, jewellery and pesticides containing prohibited chemicals were stopped from being sold and used in Sweden.
The co-operation, which was in progress in 2023, consisted of the Swedish Customs informing the Swedish Chemicals Agency of suspect products.
The controls led to the Swedish Chemicals Agency deciding on issuing a salesban on various types of electronics, jewellery and pesticides. In total, thousands of products were stopped. They were either re-exported to the country of origin or were destroyed.
The Swedish Chemicals Agency's co-operation with the Swedish Customs is an effective way to reduce the risk of people and the environment being harmed from chemicals.
- `It allows us to detect products with prohibited chemicals before they enter the country,´ says Frida Ramström, Inspector at the Swedish Chemicals Agency.
The Swedish Chemicals Agency has also encountered companies that the agency does not normally inspect.
- `In most cases, the companies’ knowledge of chemicals legislation was low, and the inspections have given us the opportunity to inform them about the regulations,’ says Frida Ramström.
Read Enforcement report 10/24: Customs controls in 2023 (in Swedish)
Advice for consumers
- Buy articles of good quality, from well-known brands and well-established companies.
- Avoid buying articles from marketplaces where the seller is located outside the EU, as there is a risk that they do not fulfil the safety requirements of EU law.
Advice for companies importing articles
- Only buy articles from reputable suppliers with documented knowledge of the requirements for chemicals in EU legislation for articles.
- Obtain knowledge about what the requirements for chemicals are for the type of articles you sell.
- Ask your suppliers for specific information on the requirements for chemicals they must fulfil and request test reports showing that the articles meet these requirements. The Swedish Centre for Chemical Substitution has developed guidance for this purpose.
- The Swedish Chemicals Agency's website has further advice on what companies selling different articles should consider. Find out more about how you as a business owner can keep track of the chemicals in your products.