EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS): An Essential Guide

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The RoHS Directive restricts chemicals and heavy metals in electronic components, solder, and materials (e.g. casing). It applies to electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) imported or manufactured in the European Union.

The requirements of the RoHS directive go beyond substance restrictions. More specifically, the directive also covers CE marking and other labelling requirements, documentation, and lab testing.
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Heavy Metals Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

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Products ranging from jewellery and watch cases to electronic components and toy paints may contain heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. The European Union strictly regulates – and in some cases, prohibits – the usage of these substances, due to their toxicity.

In this article, we summarise several EU regulations and directives covering heavy metals, including REACH, the RoHS Directive, and the Toy Safety Directive.
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Food Contact Materials Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

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Food contact materials usually include products and packaging made to be in contact with food or beverage. This includes a wide range of consumer goods, such as baby bottles, lunch boxes, cookware, and cutlery. Naturally, there are regulations that restrict the usage of certain chemicals and heavy metals in such products.

In this guide you’ll find summaries of EU food contact material regulations, including product scope, labelling requirements, documentation requirements, testing, and more.

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Baby Feeding Bottle Standards and Regulations in the EU: An Overview

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Planning to import or manufacture baby feeding bottles in the European Union? Childcare products, including baby feeding bottles, are strictly regulated. More specifically, baby bottles must both meet strict mechanical safety standards, and food contact material regulations.

In this guide, we cover relevant safety standards, substance restrictions, labelling, documentation, and testing requirements.

In addition, this guide also covers compliance risks that baby feeding bottle importers and manufacturers must be aware of.

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List of Extended Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO) in the EU

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The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy that makes manufacturers and importers responsible for what happens to the packaging of their products after it has reached its post-consumer stage. This means that companies must pay a fee to a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), which in turn collects, disposes, and recycles their packaging.

In this guide, we introduce Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) in different EU countries, that can help your company comply with national EPR requirements. Every EU member state has a list of recognised Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO). In this article, we only list organisations that are PRO Europe members, which covers most EU countries. Continue reading List of Extended Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO) in the EU

SCIP Database Guide for Importers and Manufacturers

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scip database
If you import or manufacture products for sale in the European Union, you likely need to comply with the requirements set by the Waste Framework Directive (WFD). This includes submitting information to European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) via the SCIP database, when necessary.

In this guide, we explain when you need to submit information concerning your product via the SCIP database, how to submit the required information, what is the relation between the database and the REACH regulation, and more.

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Packaging Recycling and Sustainability Symbols in the EU: An Overview

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Are you planning to use packaging recycling and sustainability symbols on your products or packaging in the EU? This article covers several symbols, such as the Mobius Loop, the Green Dot, and the OK compost labels.

While most of the symbols we cover are voluntary, some might be compulsory in some countries.

Note: This article has been updated since the video was recorded. The video may contain some errors.

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OK Compost Certification Scheme: An Overview

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OK compost

Do you plan to affix either the OK compost INDUSTRIAL label or the OK compost HOME label to your products or packaging?

This article explains what importers and manufacturers should know about the OK compost certification scheme, including its application process, required documentation, testing, and labelling.
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Baby Carrier Safety Standards and Regulations in the European Union

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Baby Carrier

Baby carriers imported to and manufactured in the European Union must be designed to comply with applicable safety requirements in mind. There are also chemicals and heavy metals restrictions to factor in. In addition, baby carriers must also be correctly labelled, and documented.

In this guide, we cover what importers and manufacturers must know about baby carrier compliance requirements, including the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD), EN standards, and REACH.
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List of Products Covered by REACH: An Overview

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Products Covered by REACH

REACH restricts chemicals, heavy metals, and other harmful substances in consumer products sold in the European Union. While the REACH regulation does apply to all consumer products, there are categories for which there are higher risks or specific bans or substance restrictions in place.

Product List Creation Methodology

In this guide, we only list products:

a. That are likely to contain one or more Substances of High Concern (SVHC)

b. For which one or more restricted substances exist

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