Protection of consumers from carcinogenic substances to be improved

Again and again consumer and environmental protection organisations detect carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a wide range of consumer products. A German initiative now aims to ban the health hazard to consumers presented by these substances in consumer products on a European level while at the same time reducing their environmental impact.

In recent years several independent German consumer protection associations as well as federal and regional authorities detected high PAH contents for example in toys, plastic shoes and tool handles. While most of the products investigated only contained moderate loads of PAH or none at all, a significant number demonstrated PAH loads which in some cases were dramatically high. PAH-free alternatives are available, but they can be expensive. Some PAHs were shown to be carcinogenic in animal tests. PAHs also give rise to environmental concerns due to their longevity, their tendency to accumulate in organisms and their toxicity.

As yet there are neither binding EU limit values nor a joint European strategy to reduce PAH loads in consumer products. Only the production of car tyres is subject to a prohibition on the use of process oils containing specific carcinogenic PAHs in concentrations exceeding 10 mg/kg.

However, everyday objects and children’s toys may also contain dangerous PAHs. In order to protect consumers better and sufficiently from dangerous PAHs, the Federal Environment Ministry and the Federal Consumer Protection Ministry, working in close cooperation, had asked the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the Federal Environmental Agency to elaborate a so-called restriction dossier pursuant to the European chemicals regulation REACH. This dossier now contains a comprehensive presentation of the PAH loads detected in various consumer products, an assessment of the potential consumer exposition and the resulting health and environment hazards. The dossier proposes a European-wide restriction of the use and marketing of products with PAH loads.

The Ministries submitted the dossier to the European Commission at the beginning of June of this year and requested implementation of the restriction in line with the simplified procedure (pursuant to Article 68 (2) of the REACH regulation). This procedure applies to substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic for reproduction (the so-called CMR-substances) and which might be used by consumers, also in mixtures and products. As compared to the standard restriction procedure, which can take years, this would allow for a relatively quick implementation. By submitting the dossier Germany supports the European Commission. Now the Commission has to decide whether to swiftly translate the German proposal into a European-wide provision.