The Enforcement Forum identifies key initiatives related to consumer safety and chemical compliance. These initiatives are directly related to the control program and chemical surveillance in 2025. The priorities developed by the Forum focus on the following areas: control of the transport of chemicals at the border, monitoring the sale of products online, as well as ensuring compliance with the requirements for classification and labelling of products.
From the agenda of the Forum meeting, which took place in the last quarter of 2024, it is possible to summarize the planned projects and initiatives in force in 2025.
Hazardous Mixtures Control Program (REF-14)
The purpose of controlling the classification and labelling of hazardous mixtures is to protect human health. As part of the project, consumer products commonly available on the market will be inspected, in particular:
- Nicotine products, such as electronic cigarettes, containing toxic substances;
- Air fresheners, containing sensitizing and irritating substances;
- Other consumer products that are known to contain dangerous ingredients.
Inspectors will check whether product suppliers comply with the obligations resulting from CLP, including: correct labelling, correct classification of the product, or the use of child protection elements. At the same time, safety data sheets and product notifications to the poison centers will be checked for these products.
In connection with the developed REF-14 project, the Forum will prepare training programs for inspectors. The training materials will focus on the technical aspects of classification and labelling of hazardous substances and mixtures. The training program will include a module on explaining the operation of bridging principles in determining the classification of a product.
Biocidal Product Controls (BEF-3)
From January 2025, a biocidal product control program will be launched, which will focus on:
- Checking the characteristics of the biocidal product;
- Verification of the correctness of product marking and labeling;
- Ensuring compliance with the Biocidal Products Regulation, including controls on authorisations.
Inspectors will check that the information on the label corresponds to the information approved in the authorisation, as well as that it is consistent with the tests and product characteristics. At the same time, inspectors can check the correctness of safety data sheets for a biocidal product. The inspections are scheduled for 2025, and reports with the results are to be published in 2026.
Poison Center Notification
The inspections start from January 2025 and will last next 6 months. Inspectors will check whether all operators have notified hazardous mixtures in PCNs, and the notifications cover the countries where the product is placed on the market. Inspectors can also check the safety data sheet and the label of the hazardous product.
Inspections of products sold online (REF-13)
At the beginning of 2025, inspections of products sold online will also start. The inspections will focus in particular on products containing substances restricted under REACH, POPs and RoHS. The obligation to include all required information under the CLP Regulation in the online notice will be checked.
Checks on the duties of the only representative
The Forum agreed that the next draft will focus on only representatives and checking whether they comply with their obligations regarding the registration of imported substances and substances present in mixtures. In addition to identifying operators and their registration obligations, inspectors will check that the tonnage of the substance is correctly registered, that the notification contains sufficient information data, and that representatives comply with the obligations related to the preparation and possession of safety data sheets.
Preparation of conclusions from the implemented projects
In addition to launching new projects, the Forum is working on conclusions resulting from the projects carried out in previous years. The analysis of the results concerns, for example: testing the presence of restricted substances in cosmetics or analysis of the correctness of the content of safety data sheets.
The Enforcement Forum is constantly working to maintain the safety of chemical products in Europe. In March 2025, another meeting of the working groups is planned to discuss the progress of ongoing projects, as well as the designation of new ones, which will be directly reflected in the inspections of chemical products.
https://echa.europa.eu/about-us/who-we-are/enforcement-forum/meetings-of-the-forum/2025