Bättre EU-regler för en giftfri miljö - Kemikalieinspektionen

substances which may be utilised subject to restrictions or conditions. Separate lists of
substances that may be used exist for colours, preservatives and sun filters (UV filters). There
are detailed requirements governing labelling of the products with a requirement to list the
ingredients.
The rules on cosmetics are aimed at protecting the consumers from health risks, but the rules
do not address environmental aspects of the use of cosmetics. Environmental aspects may
relate for example to the use of colours, preservatives and sun filters. We therefore propose
that Sweden should work towards assessing how the environmental aspects could be dealt
with through REACH, to enable more data to be produced on environmental risks regarding
ingredients of cosmetics.
There are extensive detailed rules governing how substances may be used as cosmetic
ingredients, but certain rules on substances are based on outdated knowledge about health
risks. Sweden should propose that EU rules are adopted which establish the regular
reassessment of the safety of substances in EU’s Cosmetics Regulation.
The use of sensitising substances in cosmetics should be further restricted. There is also a
need for a list of approved substances in hair-colouring products and further work on
endocrine-disrupting substances.
Rules governing chemicals in articles (Chapter 7.1 – 7.7)
EU rules with regard to chemicals in articles are complex and difficult to penetrate. The
general rules on chemicals (REACH) are also of significance for articles. The Product Safety
Directive is applicable with regard to health risks from chemicals in articles. The Ecodesign
Directive has so far been focused on energy efficiency but may in the future, to a greater
extent, also regulate other design parameters such as chemicals. Moreover, there exist a large
number of regulations that deal with special categories of articles, such as electronics, toys,
packaging, vehicles etc.
There is an on-going discussion about extending the scope of the Eco-Design directive which,
at present, is only applied to energy-related articles. Although such an extension may be
justified in general, the Directive is not particularly suitable for dealing with requirements
relating to the content of dangerous chemicals. We consider that there is a need for
requirements on chemicals content in respect of a number of categories of articles, which
should be regulated by separate legal instruments in the EU. This applies in particular if
individuals are at risk of exposure, particularly children, or if rules are needed for managing
waste from a material recycling perspective. Some such rules exist, but they need to be
enhanced. Examples are electronics and toys. We propose that Sweden should press for rules
at the EU level which impose uniform requirements for chemicals in textiles, which can partly
replace the criteria in ecolabelling schemes and voluntary restrictions lists which, in practice,
have a very wide application in Sweden.
Information requirements regarding chemicals in articles (Chapter 7.8)
A Swedish priority in work aimed at a non-toxic environment is to improve the information
regarding hazardous substances contained in articles. A general information requirement for
substances of very high concern exists in REACH. We point out the need to supplement the
candidate list in REACH, which forms the basis of the information requirement. Development
of information requirements should otherwise be aimed at the separate EU directives dealing
with articles. The global cooperation on chemicals (SAICM) has focused on the question of
information and is important in this context.
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