The Rapid Exchange of Information System (RAPEX) is an alert exchange system to monitor consumer products that poses a risk to health and consumer safety between their member states in the EU.
From Jan 2020 to Jan 2021, over 160 recall cases were listed for electrical and electronic products. RoHS, REACH and POPs has been the main-focus chemical requirements for most EE products market surveillance. It is also worth noting that since the implementation of Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2) back in 2019, the violations found for phthalates requirements via market surveillance is quite high (please refer to the adjacent illustrations).
Graphical Illustrations for Chemical-related Violations:
Examples of Electrical & Electronic Products Violations:
| PRODUCTS |
VIOLATIONS |
MEASURE |
| Headset |
Excessive Lead limit in solder (58.4% by weight) and phthalate (DEHP) (0.13% by weight) |
Stop Of Sales |
| Portable Speaker |
Excessive Lead limit in solder (25% by weight), cadmium (570 ppm by weight), short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP) (13000 ppm by weight), phthalate (DEHP & DBP) (59000 ppm and 3900 ppm by weight) |
Market Withdrawal |
| Popcorn Maker |
Excessive Lead limit (0.2% by weight), short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) (0.58% by weight) |