Inspectors check the classification and labeling of mixtures in products
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Inspectors check the classification and labeling of mixtures in products – ECHA’s Enforcement Forum has agreed to a new EU-wide project to check that hazardous mixtures in products such as air fresheners or electronic cigarettes are correctly classified, labeled and packaged. The reason is to protect consumers and children from chemical hazards.
June 17, 2024 – The purpose of the controls in the new REF-14 project is to protect human health by enforcing mandatory requirements for the classification and labeling of hazardous mixtures. The controls cover consumer products that are widely available on the market and are known to contain hazardous mixtures. Consider nicotine products containing acutely toxic substances or air fresheners containing sensitizing or irritating substances.
Some products are not classified and labeled
Law enforcement agencies found that these products are sometimes not classified and labeled to inform consumers about the dangers and safe use of these products. Sometimes they are also available without child-resistant closures, which could expose children to them.
Inspectors check whether the suppliers of these products comply with their obligations under the CLP Regulation. Includes classification and labeling as well as packaging and child-resistant closure requirements. They also check the notifications to the poison centers and the safety data sheets of the mixtures. The REF 14 project will be prepared in 2025 and inspections are expected in 2026.
Pilot project with some representatives
The Forum also agreed that the next enforcement pilot project will focus exclusively on representatives registering imported substances, including those contained in mixtures. The aim of the inspectors is to identify free riders and potentially fraudulent economic operators, which will help to create a level playing field for companies in different countries.
And also …
The inspectors also check whether the quantity of the substance has been registered correctly. Registering too small a quantity may result in insufficient information being provided to help users and authorities properly manage the risks of the substance. In addition to other requirements, inspectors may also verify that only representatives maintain records of covered importers and SDS obligations.
The transparency of the forum
To further increase transparency, the Forum also agreed to test the practice of publicly broadcasting its future stakeholder workshops, where the findings and recommendations of enforcement projects will be presented. This will help to raise awareness of compliance issues and the work of enforcement authorities.
Both the Forum and its biocides subgroup BPRS led their ongoing projects and assessed the results of enforcement campaigns underway at national level.
Background
The Enforcement Forum, including the Biocides Subgroup, is a network of EU and EEA enforcement authorities. They are responsible for coordinating the enforcement of REACH, CLP, PIC, POPs and biocides legislation with the aim of protecting our health and the environment while ensuring a level playing field for companies across the EU market.
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Source: ECHA
Also read: European Commission urges extension of ban on chemicals in medical packaging
Reservation
This information has been compiled with the greatest possible care, in some cases from different information sources. (Interpretation) errors are not excluded. No legal obligation can therefore be derived from this text. Everyone dealing with this subject has the responsibility to delve into the matter!