On August 12th, the EU's new packaging regulationStricter limits for furniture and interior design
For those selling furniture, wood-based panels or leather products, new limit values for formaldehyde have applied since August 6th.
The substance is often used in formaldehyde-based resins that act as binders for wood chips, but is also found in textiles and leather products. The new limit values for how much formaldehyde can be released are 0.062 milligrams per cubic meter of air for furniture and wood-based goods, and 0.08 milligrams per cubic meter of air for other goods.
Chemicals in clothing and cosmetics prohibited
On October 10th, a new restriction within the REACH regulation will come into force, targeting perfluorohexanoic acid, abbreviated PFHxA. This is part of the PFAS group of substances.
It will now be prohibited to sell goods to the public such as clothing, shoes, cosmetics and food packaging if they exceed the established limit values.
The concentration in homogeneous material must not be higher than 25 micrograms per kilogram for PFHxA and its salts, and 1,000 micrograms per kilogram for related substances.
Fire extinguishers and hazard labeling
E-commerce businesses selling portable fire extinguishers must adapt to new rules from October 23rd. Then, portable fire extinguishers containing PFAS in a concentration of 1 milligram per liter or more may no longer be placed on the market.
In parallel with this, a transitional period will end on November 1st for the new hazard classes in the CLP regulation.
All substances placed on the market must then be classified and labeled according to the criteria if they have endocrine-disrupting, persistent or mobile properties.
Later, on December 23rd, the solvents DMAC and NEP will also be restricted, and may not be manufactured or used in chemical products if the content is 0.3 percent or more.
