ECHA’s Enforcement On Products Sold Online

Online marketplace has become one of the happening places and a convenient platform for all consumers who wish to buy and sell products. However, the shift of e-commerce has also brought in many challenges such as quality, safety, and being non-compliant. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the e-commerce products meet the regulations and standards significantly.

This blog post will explore the ECHA’s enforcement efforts on online products, highlighting the importance of consumer safety and regulatory compliance.

ECHA’s Enforcement On The Products Sold Online:

ECHA enforcement on REACH-EN-FORCE (REF)-13 is for the products such as chemicals, common household goods, or toys sold online. The primary objective of this enforcement is to check the goods sold online complies with the REACH regulation and prevents the environment and human beings from potential risks. 

The inspectors responsible for the checking should inspect the materials mixture, its classification, labeling, and packed as per the Classification, Labeling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation. It is also to be noted that the product includes the necessary information about the possible hazards it can provide to the environment and humankind. It is also essential that inspectors should also check the regulation guidelines of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation.

Reason Behind The Evolution Of ECHA Enforcement:

The primary reason behind ECHA enforcement’s evolution is that most online chemical sales are non-compliant. In the previous (REF-8) project, the inspectors discovered that online chemical sales contained hazardous components, especially cancer-causing substances. Also, it was found that about 78% of acquired mixture or substance does not adhere to the REACH regulation.

What Is Next?

The inspections under the REACH-EN-FORCE (REF)-13 initiative are scheduled for the year 2025. 

The Biocidal Products Regulation subgroup within the Forum, known as BPRS, will target (BEF-3) biocides correctness in labeling. The inspectors will ensure the accuracy of product labels for biocidal products. Inspection teams will be responsible for verifying that the details presented on the labels of biocides are in alignment with what has been officially authorized and documented in the Summary of Product Characteristics. Additionally, inspectors may check the presence and accuracy of information in the Safety Data Sheets, mainly when such information is mandatory for biocidal products.

The preparation of the REF-13 and BEF-3 projects is scheduled for 2024, with inspections projected for 2025 and the publication of reports anticipated in 2026.

ECHA’s enforcement of online products underscores the importance of safeguarding consumer health and promoting regulatory compliance. In a rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape, ensuring the safety and quality of products is a collective effort involving regulatory bodies, businesses, and consumers. Working together can create a safer online shopping environment and contribute to a more sustainable marketplace. Hence, approach Sunstream to ensure that your supply chain adheres to the various regulations such as REACH, safety data sheets, and conflict mineral compliance.