EU to ban DMF in consumer products, such as sofas & shoes

30 Jan '09

4 min read

The existing rules
DMF is already banned for use in the manufacture of goods in the EU, since biocidal products containing DMF are not authorised under the Biocides Directive (98/8/EC). However, manufacturers outside the EU may use these unauthorised biocides and then export their products to the EU. Today's Decision therefore protects EU consumers from the risk of DMF in imported products in the same way as they are protected at home.

Recent measures introduced by Member States
In December 2008, France adopted a decree[3] which bans the importation and placing on the market of seating and footwear containing DMF for 1 year. The French decree also requires the recall of all seating and footwear which visibly contains, or the packaging of which visibly contains, DMF. In January 2009, Belgium issued a decree[4], which bans the placing on the market of all articles and products containing DMF. Spain is considering introducing a measure.

Note:
[1] Williams JDL, et al (2008) An outbreak of furniture dermatitis in the U.K. . British Journal of Dermatology 159: 233-234.
[2] Rantanen T (2008) The cause of the Chinese sofa/chair dermatitis epidemic is likely to be contact allergy to dimethylfumarate, a novel potent contact sensitizer. Concise communication. British Journal of Dermatology 159: 218-221.
[3] Ministry for the Economy, Industry and Employment, Decree of 4 December 2008 suspending the placing on the market of seats and footwear containing DMF from the market. French Official Journal , 10 December 2008, Text 17 of 108.
[4] The Minister for Public Health and the Minister for Consumer Protection, The Minister for Public Health and the Minister for Consumer Protection, Ministerial Decree concerning the prohibition of placing articles and products containing DMF on the market.

European Union

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