ECHA finds carcinogens in childcare products

Category: General

Country: Finland

Region: Europe

By Simon Glover
10th November 2023

HELSINKI – A European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) investigation has found substances which can cause cancer, genetic mutations or reproductive damage in childcare products including bibs, bedding and mattresses.

ECHA's findings will feed into European Commission proposals to restrict the use of metals like cobalt and lead, along with phthalates like DEHP, across the European Union (EU) to safeguard children.

ECHA says its investigation, which drew on information from 48 different sources, also found carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR) substances in child car seats, products related to toiletries and baby changing mats.

"Children may be exposed to these hazardous substances during use, for example through skin or oral contact, and are particularly vulnerable to the harm caused by chemical substances because of their small size, developing physiology and behaviour," said an ECHA statement.

ECHA, an EU agency which manages the implementation of the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation, will now send its report to the European Commission to help draft a potential restriction.

It includes recommendations on what the restrictions could cover, potential exemptions, recommended concentration limits, definitions of childcare articles, and timeframes for implementation. It also includes views from ECHA’s enforcement forum on how feasible it would be to enforce such a restriction.

The commission will make use of the report under REACH Article 68(2) which allows it to prepare a restriction proposal without the direct involvement of ECHA’s scientific committees.

ECHA's probe focused on substances classed as CMRs in either category 1A (known human carcinogen, mutagen or reproductive toxicant) or 1B (presumed human carcinogen, mutagen or reproductive toxicant) of the EU's CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) Regulation.

During its investigation, ECHA organised two public calls for evidence and a consultation on the draft report in which 233 different stakeholders were informed about the work and invited to provide feedback.

Courtesy: Ecotextile.com