The Swedish Chemicals Agency, Kemi, has recently published its surveillance report and announced that restricted hazardous substances were found in over a third of low-priced consumer electronics it had tested. Inspectors also found a similar proportion of products carried incorrect safety labels.

The agency inspected 177 home electronics items, such as lamps, headphones, power banks, and fans from 75 companies last year and found that 66, or 37%, contained excessive levels of lead, cadmium, phthalates, and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs).

Inspectors also found lead (Pb) in 60 products, including solders in circuit boards, and also in speakers, small motors, and in the plastic cover of cables.

Moreover, Kemi's tests showed that 91% of the products were CE marked even though they were non-compliant due to high concentrations of RoHS restricted substances. 

According to the EU Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment, products must have the European Conformity (or Conformité Européenne (CE)), mark to show that they comply with safety requirements.

Continuous market surveillance will be conducted as products containing these substances are not causing an acute risk for the user, but they contribute to the overall exposure for chemicals that are hazardous to health and the environment, and they may have a long-term effect.

Table 1. Distribution of hazardous substances found


SGS' wide range of chemical solutions can ensure manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of electronic products customizable solutions to help ensure compliance and meet consumer demands for safety and reliability.

Please contact our Customer Service Team for more information!