Narrow-and-sharp or broad-and-blunt – Regulations of hazardous chemicals in consumer products in the European Union

Chemicals are incorporated into a vast number of consumer products, and it has been recognized that considerable exposures of humans and the environment to chemicals are due to diffuse emissions from everyday products. Different approaches to the management of risks concerning chemicals in products are discussed on the international arena, but no general strategy has yet been adopted. The aim of this study is to investigate how health and environmental risks associated with chemicals in consumer products are currently managed in European Union legislations, mainly by the Toys Directive, the RoHS Directive, and REACH. Significant differences were found between the risk reduction strategies in these legislations, including substance prioritization, type of restrictions and requirements, and information dissemination to consumers. REACH regulates chemicals in products to a limited extent, and via quite complicated processes. Product-specific rules are therefore useful supplements to REACH for regulating chemicals in products. The combined effects of the RoHS and WEEE directives seem to be effective in promoting substitution of substances identified as problematic in electrical and electronic equipment, and it is recommended that the possibility to develop similar systems should be considered also for other product categories.

► Comparative analysis of EU regulations of hazardous chemicals in consumer products.
► Significant differences in risk reduction strategies were identified.
► Product-specific rules are useful supplements to REACH.
► RoHS and WEEE directives seem to effectively promote substitution in electronics.
► Similar approaches for other products may help to achieve risk management goals.