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Hot Regulatory Topics
Restrictions of Hazardous Substances
With increasing concern from associations and consumers about the adverse effects on our health and environment of hazardous substances, manufacturers and retailers have to take into account the increasing legislation for the elimination or restriction of chemicals in all industries such as cosmetics, jewelry, furniture, toys and juvenile products, etc.
Armed with strong product expertise, our testing and consultancy services allow you to place your products on the targeted markets with confidence and minimize the risk of recalls.
SGS can assist you with regulatory compliance for main current regulations or directives concerning restricted substances:
- The Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) to control formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products drafted by California Air Resources Board (CARB) was approved on April 18, 2008.
- Products concerned: Composite Wood Products (CWP), Furniture and other finished products made with composite wood products, including consumer shelving, fixtures, DIY products, flooring, paneling, molding, packaging and picture frames
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA).
- Provisions include, for instance, rigorous lead restrictions for children's products, a ban on phthalates (chemicals used to soften plastic) in children's toys.
- Products concerned: most consumer products including children’s products (cribs, pacifiers, rattles), jewelry, bicycles, bicycle helmets and bunk beds
- Additional requirements for Toys: migration or content of certain hazardous organic chemical compounds.
- Products concerned: toys
- A new European Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC was published on June 30, 2009 in the Official Journal of the EU.
- Products concerned: toys
- Plasticizers in soft and flexible products.
- Products concerned: toys and childcare products
- California Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was enacted as a ballot initiative in November 1986. A list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity is published annually. It concerns over 800 chemicals.
- Products concerned: all products sold or distributed in California, including toys, clothing, cosmetics, jewelry, electrical devices, wires & cables, premium and decorative items, dyes, articles used in manufacturing and construction, food, drugs, agricultural pesticides, glass & ceramic materials
- The new European Union chemical policy, REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of CHemicals), Regulation (EC) n°1907/2006, is aimed at ensuring a high level of protection of health and the environment as well as enhancing innovation of green chemicals. REACH came into force on June 1, 2007 but has a progressive schedule.
- Products concerned: all consumer products
- EU RoHS - Directive 2002/95/EC concerning the Restriction of Hazardous Substances banned in electronic and electrical products
- U.S. RoHS - On May 14, 2009, a legislation has been proposed in the United States Congress H.R. 2420 entitled “Environmental Design of Electrical Equipment Act (EDEE)” by amending the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.
- Products concerned: electrical and electronic equipment
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
- VOCs refer to organic chemical compounds which have significant vapor pressures and which can affect the environment and human health.
- Products concerned: consumer products such as paints, coatings, textiles, cosmetics, furniture, office equipment, toys, etc.
