EU receives warnings on harmful products

Credit: dpa/NAN

The European Commission has received a number of warnings about harmful products last year, outdoing the previous record from 2023, a commission report published on Wednesday showed.

According to the Commission’s report, the 4,137 warnings received from national authorities, not private individuals, was the highest level since the commission started keeping records in 2003.

A commission report said products such as toys, cosmetics and jewellery, and dangerous chemicals were the main reason for product warnings.

These included, for example, nickel or lead being found in jewellery.

Allergenic fragrances in body oils or synthetic chemicals used to soften plastics for example in some clothing were also frequently detected.

The information did not include food items, as they are covered under a different system.

The commission’s rapid alert system was set up to disseminate alerts more quickly throughout the EU single market.

The authorities issued the most warnings about cosmetic products, accounting for 36per cent of reports.

In almost all cases, this was due to the fragrance BMHCA, which has been banned in cosmetic products since 2022 because it is suspected of reducing fertility.

Toys took the number two spot, accounting for 15per cent of warnings, followed by electrical appliances and motor vehicles.

The total number of reports had already increased sharply in 2023 to 3,412, which was a record then.

However, only limited conclusions can be drawn about the total number of dangerous products.

The figures can fluctuate because national authorities report more actively, and more ingredients are added to the list of banned substances.