The Swedish Chemicals Agency, Kemi, has recently published its surveillance report and announced that restricted hazardous substances were found in over a third of low-priced consumer electronics it had tested. Inspectors also found a similar proportion of products carried incorrect safety labels.
The agency inspected 177 home electronics items, such as lamps, headphones, power banks, and fans from 75 companies last year and found that 66, or 37%, contained excessive levels of lead, cadmium, phthalates, and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs).
Inspectors also found lead (Pb) in 60 products, including solders in circuit boards, and also in speakers, small motors, and in the plastic cover of cables.
Moreover, Kemi’s tests showed that 91% of the products were CE marked even though they were non-compliant due to high concentrations of RoHS restricted substances.
According to the EU Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment, products must have the European Conformity (or Conformité Européenne (CE)), mark to show that they comply with safety requirements.
Continuous market surveillance will be conducted as products containing these substances are not causing an acute risk for the user, but they contribute to the overall exposure for chemicals that are hazardous to health and the environment, and they may have a long-term effect.
SGS’ wide range of chemical solutions can ensure manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers of electronic products customizable solutions to help ensure compliance and meet consumer demands for safety and reliability.
For more information, please contact our Customer Service team.
To obtain a copy of this article in PDF format, please click here.
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.
Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.
SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).
Units 303 & 305, 3/F, Building 22E,
Phase 3, Hong Kong Science Park,
Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong, China