Legislation

Chemicals and products containing chemicals

The declaration regarding classification, packaging, labelling, sales and storage of chemicals and products containing chemicals (no. 329 of 16 May 2002) covers the classification and labelling of all chemicals and products containing chemicals that are harmful to health, for example, chemicals that cause allergy. These labellings inform people who use either the chemical or the product containing the chemical (both at home and at work) about the risks involved in using the chemical/product and the conditions under which it should be used.

This list can be found on:

www.mst.dk

Potency evaluation of contact allergens

It has been proposed to sub-classify allergenic chemicals according to their innate allergenic potency. This would involve implementing administrative limits for warning labels on products containing allergenic chemicals according to the level of their allergenic potency. Accordingly, whether a product should be labelled as containing an allergenic chemical would depend on the allergenic potency of the chemical rather than on the amount added. Consequently, it would be mandatory to label a product as containing a highly allergenic chemical, even if the product contained only a very small amount, whereas less allergenic chemicals would be permitted to be added in larger amounts before product labelling was required.

This proposal can be found at:

ecb.jrc.it

Cosmetic products

In Denmark, cosmetic products, such as soaps, creams and lotions, and hair dye are regulated by the cosmetic ingredient declaration (declaration no. 594 of 6 June 2002).
According to paragraph 9 of the declaration, cosmetic products should not be harmful to human health when use under normal conditions or under conditions considered as normal. This general declaration is supplemented by a number of requirements regarding the contents, labelling and documentation.

The declaration is being revised and further requirements will be introduced, for example, information on the length of time a product will keep after opening and information on the content of certain allergenic fragrances.

This declaration can be found on:

www.mst.dk

The declaration of nickel

This declaration is aimed at protecting consumers against nickel allergy, which can be caused by close and prolonged skin contact with items containing nickel, for example, jewellery, buttons, fastenings, and zips and studs in clothing.

The nickel declaration was initially a Danish initiative from 1989; now it is an EU legislation (no. 24 of 14 January 2002)

This declaration can be found on:

www.mst.dk
 

Chromium in cement

In Denmark, the amount of allergenic chromate in cement has been regulated since 1983 by a declaration regarding water soluble chromate in cement (no. 661 of 28 November 1983).

Chrome is also used in leather tanning. Although this, too, can lead to allergy, there is no legislation regarding chrome in leather products.

This declaration can be found on:

www.arbejdstilsynet.dk

Epoxy resins

Epoxy resins are normally used as the one part of a two-component adhesive. Epoxy resins are highly allergenic. A declaration from the Danish Working Environment Authority gives specifications and requirements pertaining to work involving epoxy resins. This relates to the Danish Working Environment Authority’s declaration on epoxy resins and isocyanates no. 199 of 26 March 1985 with reading guidance At C:O:7

This declaration can be found on:

www.arbejdstilsynet.dk