In May 2007 the Norwegian Control Authority (SFT) opened up to stakeholder consultation a proposal that recommended a ban on 18 hazardous substances in consumer products, the so called PoHS, or Prohibition of Hazardous Substances. They received over a hundred replies both national and international.
Having considered the responses the SFT has adjusted its proposals somewhat. There was a view that they should wait for European Union (EU) regulations on some substances while standing by the proposal for stricter content requirements for ten substances in consumer products.
The ten substances are harmful to both human health and the environment.
They are substances that have low degradability, they bio-accumulate (they accumulate in the food chain) and / or they are toxic. Several are harmful to reproduction.
Having considered the responses the SFT has adjusted its proposals somewhat. There was a view that they should wait for European Union (EU) regulations on some substances while standing by the proposal for stricter content requirements for ten substances in consumer products.
The ten substances are harmful to both human health and the environment.
They are substances that have low degradability, they bio-accumulate (they accumulate in the food chain) and / or they are toxic. Several are harmful to reproduction.
Vulnerable groups such as children are subject to exposure to consumer products, either directly or indirectly through the environment. Reducing the level of hazardous substances in products is also important in order to reduce the amount of hazardous waste.
The new regulations will affect the kind of consumer products that can be traded in Norway. The intention is to keep the best products on the market while those with the most worrying effects for health and the environment will no longer be legal.
The SFT recommends that the ban will include production, imports, exports and trade of consumer products that contain one or more of the ten substances when the substance content in the product exceeds, or is equal to, established maximum concentration values.
The SFT suggests the inclusion of ten hazardous substances:
Medium chain chlorinated paraffins, bisphenol A, muskxylene, triclosan, the perfluorinated compound PFOA, the brominated flame retardant HBCDD, pentachlorophenal and the heavy metals lead, cadmium, arsenic and their compounds.
The SFT will wait for the results of EU reviews on the phthalate DEHP organotin compounds and the brominated flame retardant TBBPA.
The SFT view is that the benefits of banning the electrical and electronic products containing substances harmful to health and the environment are far greater than the costs to society related to banning the products.
Directive Decoder
The new regulations will affect the kind of consumer products that can be traded in Norway. The intention is to keep the best products on the market while those with the most worrying effects for health and the environment will no longer be legal.
The SFT recommends that the ban will include production, imports, exports and trade of consumer products that contain one or more of the ten substances when the substance content in the product exceeds, or is equal to, established maximum concentration values.
The SFT suggests the inclusion of ten hazardous substances:
Medium chain chlorinated paraffins, bisphenol A, muskxylene, triclosan, the perfluorinated compound PFOA, the brominated flame retardant HBCDD, pentachlorophenal and the heavy metals lead, cadmium, arsenic and their compounds.
The SFT will wait for the results of EU reviews on the phthalate DEHP organotin compounds and the brominated flame retardant TBBPA.
The SFT view is that the benefits of banning the electrical and electronic products containing substances harmful to health and the environment are far greater than the costs to society related to banning the products.
Directive Decoder
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