The European Commission is holding a consultation on proposed amendments to the EU’s General Product Safety Directive. The General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) is central to the EU’s product regulatory regime. It applies to most consumer products sold in the EU, and complements sector-specific rules, such as those that apply to toys, electrical and electronic […]
EU restriction of BPA in thermal paper enters into force
An EU-wide ban has entered into force on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in thermal paper. As of 2 January the substance cannot legally be placed on the market in thermal paper in a concentration equal to or greater than 0.02% by weight. In December 2016, the European Commission published a Regulation adding BPA, which is used in […]
Food contact Bamboo and Melamine products continue to face challenges in the European Union
Composite materials containing bamboo and melamine-formaldehyde resin are facing scrutiny in the EU. Recent risk assessments by the German Federal Institute of Risk Assessment (BfR) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reconfirm specific migration issues and use of questionable additives. In an earlier blog post we informed you about market surveillance activities and concerns relating […]
Consumer product safety in the UK
The head of consumer protection policy at UK’s Which? explains how general safety laws help protect UK citizens. Sue Davies is the Head of Consumer Protection and Food Policy, at Which?, the UK’s equivalent of Australia’s CHOICE. In this editorial, she talks about how general safety laws – similar to those that CHOICE would like […]
Potentially deadly electrical products available on Amazon and eBay, safety charity investigation finds
Amazon and eBay have been accused of failing to stop the sale of unsafe electricals after a safety charity found ‘potentially deadly’ items advertised. Electrical Safety First found that of 15 products it bought and tested from the two sites, as well as the online marketplace Wish, 14 failed tests against UK standards. The failures […]
RAPEX 2018 Annual Report – 2,257 Dangerous Product Alerts and 4,050 Follow-up Actions
The European Commission’s 2018 RAPEX Annual Report shows a stabilization in the number of dangerous product reports and follow-up actions for national authorities. The European Commission (EC) has released its 2018 RAPEX annual report. The EC’s 2018 RAPEX Annual Report notes stabilization in the number of notifications and member state follow-up actions. However, market surveillance […]
The old PPE Directive has been replaced by Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on PPE
The main changes to be aware of The old PPE Directive has been replaced by Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on PPE since April 2018 A number of types of protection has moved from category II (intermediate) to category III (complex) such as hearing protection and life jackets There is now a requirement for manufacturers to supply […]
EU updates harmonised Toy Safety Standards
Five new standards for presumption of conformity with the Toy Safety Directive, and amendments to two entries in the standard for finger paints, have become effective on February 28, 2019. These new standards will completely supersede their corresponding standards. EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 Safety of toys – Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties EN 71-3:2013+A3:2018 Safety of […]