The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has announced the launch of a new EU-wide project under the Enforcement Forum, designated as REF-14. This initiative aims to ensure that hazardous mixtures in consumer products, such as air fresheners and electronic cigarettes, are correctly classified, labelled, and packaged to protect human health and safeguard children from chemical hazards.
Objective of REF-14 Project
The primary goal of the REF-14 project is to enforce compliance with the classification and labelling requirements for hazardous mixtures. These checks will focus on widely available consumer products known to contain hazardous substances, such as nicotine products with acutely toxic substances and air fresheners with sensitising or irritant substances. The enforcement authorities have noted instances where these products are not properly labelled, leading to a lack of information for consumers on safe usage and potential risks.
Importance of Proper Labelling and Packaging
Improper classification and labelling of hazardous mixtures can pose significant risks to consumers, especially children. Products lacking child-resistant fastenings can result in accidental exposure to toxic substances. Inspectors will ensure that suppliers comply with the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulation, which includes proper labelling, packaging, and child-resistant fastenings. Additionally, they will check notifications to poison centres and the safety data sheets of these mixtures.
Timeline and Preparations
The REF-14 project is set to be prepared in 2025, with inspections expected to begin in 2026. This timeline allows for thorough preparation and coordination among enforcement authorities across the EU.
Pilot Project on Only Representatives
In addition to the REF-14 project, the Forum has agreed on a pilot enforcement project focusing on only representatives who register imported substances, including those in mixtures. This initiative aims to identify free-riders and potentially fraudulent economic operators, ensuring a level playing field for companies in different countries.
Ensuring Accurate Registration
Inspectors will verify that the tonnage of substances is registered correctly, as registering for too low a tonnage can lead to insufficient information for risk management. They will also ensure that only representatives maintain accurate records of importers and meet obligations regarding safety data sheets.
Enhancing Transparency in Enforcement
To further enhance transparency, the Forum has decided to test the practice of publicly broadcasting its future stakeholder workshops. These workshops will present the results and recommendations of enforcement projects, raising awareness about compliance issues and the work of enforcement authorities.
Ongoing and Future Initiatives
Both the Forum and its biocides subgroup, BPRS, provided guidance on ongoing projects and reviewed the results of current national enforcement campaigns. The Forum and BPRS met from 10-14 June 2024, with the next meeting scheduled for November 2024.
