Denmark targets SMEs (Electronic and Electrical Product Manufacturers) to promote chemical substances in compliance with regulations.
The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently strengthened its efforts to promote compliance with EU chemical substance regulations for small and medium-sized manufacturers, retailers, and importers of electrical and electronic products.
This "Toxic chemicals in electronics is also your responsibility" campaign is part of the Danish government's plan to prevent children, teenagers, and pregnant women from being exposed to harmful substances. The campaign aims to raise manufacturers' awareness of regulations governing chemical substances in electronic and electrical products, prioritizing products that children may come into contact with, such as televisions, tablets, small kitchen appliances, and mobile phones.
Children use a variety of electronic and electrical products just like adults, but research shows that children are more susceptible to harm from chemicals than adults. Therefore, every manufacturer in the electronic and electrical product manufacturing chain should be aware of the hazardous substance regulations that their products must comply with.
In 2014, the Danish EPA conducted a survey of 57 companies in the electrical and electronic industry. More than 90% of the surveyed companies were small retailers. The results showed that almost half of the surveyed companies had never heard of the RoHS Directive. 84% of the companies could not name the six hazardous chemicals regulated by the RoHS Directive: lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBBs, and PBDEs.
Nearly two-thirds of businesses are unaware that toys containing electronic components (such as remote-controlled cars or teddy bears with sound and light effects) must comply with both the EU RoHS Directive and the Toy Directive to ensure that no specific harmful chemicals or allergenic fragrances are added to the products.
In light of the findings of the aforementioned investigation report, the Danish EPA provides guidance on its website regarding compliance with regulations concerning hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products (such as the RoHS Directive and the REACH Regulation) to assist small businesses in meeting relevant EU regulatory requirements.
Sources:Chemical Watch (2015-05-21) (Compiled by PIDC)
