Study reveals that 71% of products purchased online violate chemical legislation

The Nordic enforcement project shows that 71% of the 210 products checked do not comply with EU legislation on chemicals. Its study of seven high-risk product groups found that electronic toys had the highest non-compliance rate at 81%. 

As well as identifying differences in non-compliance rates among product groups, the study also shows that the risk of purchasing products containing hazardous substances increases depending on the type of online shop. The products tested came from three types of online platforms. On marketplaces such as Amazon, Temu, and Etsy, the non-compliance rate is 64%; for webshops with their own stocks it is 59%. For dropshipping stores – online shops that do not have their own stocks and send products directly from a supplier to the customer – the non-compliance rate is as high as 87%. 

The report identifies the need to raise awareness of chemical legislation among e-commerce operators and to introduce stricter regulation. 

Dan Koivulaakso, Head of the Nordic Council of Ministers Department for Growth and Climate, looks forward to ministers discussing the challenges posed by online shopping at the first meeting of the Nordic environment and climate ministers in 2025.

“One of the objectives of Nordic co-operation on the climate and environment is to support the transition to a more circular economy while reducing the use of hazardous substances in our part of the world. A better understanding of online shopping will help, and it will also protect Nordic consumers,” he says.

• The Nordic control project was commissioned by the Nordic Working Group for Chemicals, Environment, and Health (NKE) and managed by the Swedish Chemicals Agency in collaboration with the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Norwegian Environment Agency. It was funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
• Due to its focus on high-risk products such as cheap electronics and soft plastic products, the study does not provide an overview of all product groups sold on online platforms. 
• 155 of the products studied were made in China. The country of origin of a further 67 was unknown, making it possible that they were also made in China. 
• The project checked for violations of a number of statutes, including the RoHS Directive, the REACH Regulation, the POPs Regulation and the Toy Safety Directive. 
• Products in the following categories were checked: 

1. Jewellery
2. Electronic products
3. Clothes
4. Electronic toys
5. Sports and leisure
6. Toys
7. Miscellaneous (e.g., shower curtains and packaging)