Market Access
September 7, 2023 | Written by GreenSoft Technology, Inc.
15 Product Recalls from European Market Due to EU RoHS Violations
Fifteen products forced to be removed from European market due to EU RoHS violations
In the third quarter of 2023, importers of 15 products were ordered to recall their products from the European market for failure to comply with the EU RoHS Directive. Several of the products were also found to be non-compliant with the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) Regulation.
The EU RoHS Directive imposes restrictions on the presence of specific substances and prohibits certain chemicals in items sold within the European Union. Products discovered to be non-compliant with EU RoHS must be removed from the European market due to environmental concerns.
The products recalled in the third quarter of 2023 include headphones, antenna power supplies, USB devices, and other consumer electronic devices such as an alarm clock, an eyelash curler, and a remote-control toy.
The recalls were announced via the following EU Safety Gate alerts:
Electric Neck Fan
Description:
The product has an excessive concentration of short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) (measured value: 3.6 % by weight). SCCPs persist in the environment, are toxic to aquatic organisms at low concentrations and bio-accumulate in wildlife and humans, posing a risk to human health and the environment. Prolonged exposure to them through the skin may cause cancer. The solders and the PVC material in the cord have an excessive concentration of lead (measured value up to 54.9 % by weight). Lead poses a risk to the environment. The cord material has an excessive concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) (measured values: 1.7% and 1.3% by weight, respectively). These phthalates may harm the health of children, causing possible damage to their reproductive system. The solders in the product have an excessive concentration of cadmium (measured value: 0.14% by weight). Cadmium bio-accumulates and poses a risk to the environment.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) Regulation
Alert Number/Link:
Bluetooth Headphones
Description:
The white plastic in the cable, the solder in connection to battery and the solders on the PCB of the product have excessive concentrations of lead (measured values up to 0.26%, 31.8% and 75.9% by weight, respectively). Lead poses a risk to the environment. The white plastic material in the cable has excessive an concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) (measured values up to 1.69%, 1.67 % and 6.49 % by weight, respectively). The black leather material of the product has an excessive concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (measured value up to 19.3%). These phthalates may harm the health by causing possible damage to the reproductive system. SCCPs persist in the environment, are toxic to aquatic organisms at low concentrations and bio-accumulate in wildlife and humans, posing a risk to human health and the environment. Prolonged exposure to them through the skin may cause cancer.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) Regulation
Alert Number/Link:
Mini USB Fan
Description:
The solders of the product have an excessive concentration of lead (measured value up to 54,6% by weight). Lead poses a risk to the environment.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
USB Charger
Description:
The solders on the product have an excessive concentration of lead (measured value up to 35,4% by weight). Lead poses a risk to the environment.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
Digital Alarm Clock
Description:
The solders of the product have an excessive concentration of lead (measured value up to 60,3% by weight). Lead poses a risk to the environment.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
USB Flash Drive
Description:
The solders in the product have an excessive concentration of lead (measured value: 59.6% by weight). Lead poses a risk to the environment. The pink plastic material of the product has an excessive concentration of 24.26% by weight of DEHP bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. This phthalate may harm the health by possibly causing damage to the reproductive system.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
Remote Control
Description:
The solders on the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) have an excessive concentration of lead (measured value up to 26.4% by weight). Lead poses a risk to the environment.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
Induction Headlamp
Description:
The solders and plastics of the product have an excessive concentration of lead (measured value up to 58.6% by weight). Lead poses a risk to the environment.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
Star Lamp/Projector
Description:
The solders of the product have excessive concentrations of lead and cadmium (measured values up to 71,9% and 0,16% by weight, respectively). Lead and cadmium pose a risk to the environment.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
Remote Control Toy
Description:
The solders on the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) have an excessive concentration of lead (measured value up to 67% by weight). Lead poses a risk to the environment.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
Antenna Power Supply
Description:
The metal components of the product contain an excessive amount of lead (measured value up to 48%). Lead poses a risk to the environment.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
Loudspeakers
Description:
The solders have an excessive concentration of lead (measured value up to 58,65%). Lead poses a risk to the environment.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
Eyelash Curler
Description:
The solders in the product have an excessive concentration of lead (measured value: 74% by weight). Lead poses a risk to the environment.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
Antenna Power Supply
Description:
The product contains an excessive concentration of lead (measured value up to 67,2%) and cadmium (measured value up to 0,06%). Lead and cadmium pose a risk to the environment.
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
Wireless Headphones
Description:
The product does not comply with the requirements of the Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS 2 Directive).
Regulation Violation(s):
EU RoHS 2 Directive
Alert Number/Link:
As a result of the violations, the importers of all 15 products were required to withdraw the products from the European market.
GreenSoft’s data services can help prevent loss of market access for regulation violations
Compliance with EU RoHS and EU POP is mandatory for affected companies that manufacture or distribute products in the European market. As demonstrated by the enforcement actions above, failure to comply with this regulation can result of loss of market access and other serious consequences for manufacturers and distributors.
GreenSoft Technology provides Data Services to help your company comply with EU RoHS and EU POP, so that you can ensure you retain market access to the European market.
Learn more about our Data Services or contact us today to get started.