Enforcement 1/25: Chemicals in seasonal goods

In this project, the Swedish Chemicals Agency has controlled 250 articles regarding chemical content, and in some cases also labeling. The focus has been articles used during holidays or during certain seasons.

In the chemical analyses, we have looked for substances that are restricted in the RoHS Directive, the REACH Regulation, the POPs Regulation and the Toy Safety Directive. Approximately one fifth of the controlled articles contained restricted substances in concentrations above the limit values in the legislation. Examples of non-compliant articles were electrical decorations, plastic sandals and jewellery.

The most common substance deficiency was lead. 29 articles contained the substance in concentrations above limit values. In most cases, it was soldering in electrical products that contained lead. 22 articles contained various phthalates in concentrations above the limit value. We found these substances in articles made of soft PVC plastic, such as bags, slippers and cables for electrical products. Other substances we found in excessive levels were cadmium in electrical products and jewellery, short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) in soft plastic articles and nickel emitted from jewellery.

Products sold by marketplaces had the highest proportion of articles with substance deficiencies. We have had the same results in other enforcement projects as well.

The holiday where we found the most products with high levels of chemicals was Halloween. We have seen that Halloween products may contain restricted substances in previous controls.

We have also reviewed the labeling on electronic products and toys and found deficiencies regarding the absence of a CE mark, identification number and name and contact details of the manufacturer and importer.

Even if most non-conformities do not pose an acute risk to the user, they contribute to the total exposure of substances hazardous to health and the environment to which we are exposed in everyday life. The content of dangerous substances also poses risks for those who work to manufacture the articles and poses risks when the articles become waste. The presence of hazardous substances also makes it difficult to recycle the articles.