Sweden advocates EU ban on imports of NPE-containing textiles

A few days ago, Sweden issued a notification to the European Chemicals Agency that it will prepare a document on nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (NPE). The document will be drafted by the Swedish Chemicals Agency and set out the rationale for the ban on the importation of NPE-containing textiles into the European Union. It is intended to be submitted to the European Chemicals Agency by August 2012. The Swedish initiative may eventually lead to the European Union’s complete ban on the sale of textiles containing NPE. The Swedish Chemicals Agency estimates that it may take only two years to include the ban in the European Chemicals Registration, Evaluation, and Licensing Regulations (REACH).

NPE is a biodegradable surfactant that is extremely toxic to aquarium organisms and is often used as a surfactant in textile production. Discharge into the environment quickly decomposes it into nonylphenol (NP). Nonylphenol (NP) is a recognized environmental hormone that mimics estrogen, affects the sexual development of organisms, and interferes with endocrine organisms and is toxic to the reproductive system.

Here, the inspection and quarantine department recommends that textile enterprises: early planning, improving textile technology, eliminating such toxic and hazardous substances in the production process, understanding and mastering EU technical trade measures for imported textiles in order to take countermeasures to prevent Qualified and notified of recall. In addition, it is also necessary to enhance the company’s quality awareness, strengthen the training of internal personnel, ensure the product quality and safety, and ensure that the products pass the inspection of foreign markets smoothly and establish a good quality image for themselves.