Category: European Union

Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation: An Overview

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CLP Regulation
The Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation classifies and regulates substances, mixtures and some articles in order to protect people and the environment.

The scope of the regulation also includes consumer products mainly composed of substances, such as candles, or finger paints.

In this guide, we explain how the CLP Regulation applies to those substances and products, including requirements regarding labelling, packaging, and lab testing.
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PFAS Regulations in the European Union: An Essential Guide

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PFAS Regulations European Union

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that have been used in certain consumer products for their ability to resist water and stains.

Such products include cookware, clothing, furniture, and building materials. In recent years, PFAS has been restricted by various regulations in the European Union because of their toxicity to humans and the environment.

In this article, we list examples of products that might contain PFAS, as well as regulations that restrict them, including REACH, the POPs Regulation, and the Cosmetic Products Regulation.
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CE Certificate of Conformity: A Complete Guide

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A CE Certificate of Conformity (CoC) essentially states that a certain product is compliant with one or more regulations, directives or standards. It also includes information about the conformity assessment performed, the issuing company, product information, and suppliers.

In theory, this certificate is issued based on the issuing company reviewing or creating certain documents. This includes test reports and technical files.

However, as I will explain in this guide, far from all documents titled ‘Certificate of Conformity’ are valid and based on an actual conformity assessment. In short, many of these documents are invalid and can result in your products being subject to a recall, fines, or other penalties.

Alternative terms

Certificate of Conformity documents can have the following titles:

  • CE Certificate
  • Attestation of Conformity
  • Verification of Conformity
  • Certificate of Compliance

Some service providers also refer to these as voluntary certificates.

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Machinery Regulation: An Essential Guide

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Machinery Regulation

The Machinery Regulation lays down health and safety requirements for machinery, as well as partially completed machinery. As the definition of machinery includes products with moving parts, the regulation is also relevant for consumer products such as e-bikes or trademills.

In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers should know about the Machinery Regulation, including documentation, CE marking, labelling, and testing requirements.
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Chemical Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

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Chemical Regulations European Union

Practically all consumer products sold in the European Union are subject to regulations governing the use of heavy metals, chemicals, and other substances. Specific bans and restrictions on substances like lead and phthalates apply to essentially all consumer products – including textiles, childcare items, toys, cosmetics, and kitchenware.

Despite bans and restrictions, some products sold in the EU continue to contain high concentrations of restricted chemicals.

In this article, we list some of the most important EU regulations that cover substances in consumer products. We also explain how you can check if a product contains regulated or prohibited substances.
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Children’s Product Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

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Children's Product Regulations in the European Union

Children’s furniture and various types of childcare articles are usually not considered toys, which means that the Toy Safety Directive is normally not applicable. However, such children’s products are subject to safety standards, substance restrictions, labelling, documentation, and testing requirements.

In this guide, we explain how the GPSR, EN standards, REACH, and food contact materials regulations relate to children’s products. Note that this guide does not cover all EU requirements for children’s products, but it provides a broad overview and can help you understand the basics.

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Magnet Safety Standards & Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

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Magnet Regulations EU

Magnets and products that contain magnets are potential safety hazards. As such, ensuring compliance with applicable safety standards, substance restrictions, and warning labelling requirements is essential.

Products that contain small magnets might be particularly dangerous. For example, there have been cases of children who swallowed magnets and required urgent surgery.

In this guide, we cover requirements for magnets such as those listed in the REACH Regulation, the Toy Safety Directive, EN 71-1 and the General Product Safety Regulation.
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What is the difference between REACH and California Proposition 65?

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REACH California Proposition 65 comparison

REACH and California Proposition 65 are two regulations restricting dangerous substances in the EU and in the US State of California, respectively. These two regulations overlap to a large extent in terms of the substances that are subject to restrictions.

That being said, the two differ in terms of the specific bans, limitations, test methods, labeling, and registration requirements that apply.

In this guide, we summarize the main differences between the regulations and feature some examples of restricted substances.
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What is the difference between REACH and RoHS?

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difference between REACH and RoHS

The REACH Regulation and RoHS Directive restrict the usage of various substances. There is also some overlap in terms of the substances covered by RoHS and REACH, which can create some confusion. However, they differ in terms of product scope, substance restrictions, and labelling requirements.

In this guide, we explain and summarise what some of those differences are. We also include examples of restricted substances for both regulation, and the respective limits.
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EU Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation: An Overview

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The Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation is a new regulation that sets requirements for batteries and waste batteries placed in the EU market. It covers all types of batteries unless an exemption applies.

In this guide, we explain when the regulation will begin to apply, and its differences from the prior Batteries Directive. We also outline documentation, labelling, EPR and other requirements.
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