Nordic enforcement project on give-away products


Book Description

The Nordic chemicals agencies have jointly controlled the Nordic market of give-away products. These products were controlled against the requirements of several EU-legislations (REACH Regulation, Toy Safety Directive, RoHS Directive, POPs Regulation and the Battery Directive). The results show that economic operators lack knowledge of the applicable requirements, as well as lacking understanding of the extent of their obligations. They are missing appropriate systems to comply with the rules. Nevertheless, the Nordic chemicals agencies have observed an interest from business organisations to be better at understanding and complying with the applicable rules. This joint enforcement project has also contributed to creating closer collaboration between the Nordic chemicals agencies resulting in sharing more information and ensuring better resource efficiency.




Joint Nordic Control of E-commerce


Book Description

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-528/ The Nordic Enforcement Group has checked the compliance level for e-commerce of consumer goods. We focused on three types of business models: marketplaces, dropshipping stores and web shops. A total of 412 products were analysed for restricted substances. 152 (37 %) of the products were non-compliant. The dropshipping stores had the highest non-compliance rate (70 %). They seem however to be unaware of their responsibility for product safety. The results also confirm that products bought from outside the EU/EEA has a higher risk of non-compliance, compared to the products bought within the EU/EEA. The non-compliance rate for the non-EU/EEA companies was 66 %. The national authorities lack powers to demand correction from actors outside the EU. However, there are new rules governing the e-commerce actors coming into force, with the aim to contribute to safer products.




Allergen Labelling and Use of Advisory Labelling May Contain Traces Of [allergen]


Book Description

In 2010-2012, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland collaborated in a Nordic inspection campaign about labelling of allergens and use of advisory labelling ("May contain traces of [allergen]"). The background to the project was that accurate labelling of allergens is crucial for the health of people who suffer from allergies. If allergens listed in Annex IIIa of the EC Directive (2000/13/EC with amendments) are not presented on a product label, this can present a serious health risk for people with allergies. Furthermore, increased use of the advisory labelling "May contain traces of [allergen]" is making it harder for people with allergies to choose products. One aim of the project was to encourage food companies to take responsibility for accurate labelling of allergens on their products. The project also aimed to increase awareness and knowledge in food companies about allergy safety, and thereby improve procedures for advisory labelling about allergens. Other aims were to develop a common standpoint on the use of advisory labelling and to promote the Nordic co-operation.




Nordic project food contact materials


Book Description

Denmark, Finland, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have in 2013–2015 conducted a Nordic project on food contact materials. Food contact materials are used in all stages of food production and can be a general source of contamination. The food safety authorities in most of the Nordic countries have had a limited focus on the FCM area with the exception of Denmark and Finland. The aim of the project was therefore to control establishments producing, importing or using plastic food contact materials as well as to increase the knowledge of the inspectors performing these controls. The focus of the inspections was to control the declaration of compliance (DoC) for plastic food contact materials. The requirement for a Doc is mandatory in order to ensure that the FCM complies with the legislation. In addition some products were analyzed for phthalates.




Analysis of needs for enforcement of PFAS in articles and chemical products


Book Description

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2024-510/ Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of substances that have been widely used for decades due to their surface-active properties. However, their characteristic resistance to degradation in combination with other properties of concern for human health and the environment has resulted in regulatory actions such as restrictions towards this group of substances, in the EU and globally. Compliance with restrictions as well as enforcement by authorities is key to reduce intentional use of restricted PFAS in articles and chemical products. To analyse PFAS accurately, robust and reliable analytical methods are required. This report evaluates the current situation related to PFAS-analyses and enforcement (including challenges and needs) and propose measures/strategies to enable and/or improve enforcement of, and compliance with current and future, PFAS restrictions.




The Nordic Region leading in green growth


Book Description

In November 2011, the Nordic Prime Ministers commissioned the Nordic Council of Ministers to launch a new cross sectoral initiative for green growth. The Prime Ministers’ commission was based on the report, The Nordic Region – leading in green growth, prepared by a Nordic working group for green growth. The Nordic countries should together utilise their position in terms of energy efficiency, development of sustainable energy, environmental awareness, innovation and research initiatives, and high international goals in the environmental and climate area. The aim is to work in areas in which the Nordic countries can build on and develop existing positions of strength, improve co-ordination between the Nordic countries, and take the lead in relation to the development in the European Union (EU). The Councils of Ministers are making tangible the working group’s eight recommendations for project activities, which have been granted a total of DKK 45 million in the period 2012–2014. This status report presents the most important advances in each project. More information on the initiative is also available on the home page of the Council of Ministers, www.norden.org/greengrowth.




EU REACH Enforcement project


Book Description




Product Environmental Information and Product Policies: How Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) changes the situation?


Book Description

Reliable information is needed to drive the market towards ecologically sound products. Product Environmental Footprint has many properties that are new to the Life Cycle Assessment tradition, increasing the consistency, accuracy and comparability of the results. It is important to start the organization of the PEF scheme, and invest in efforts to rapidly increase the number of product and service groups and actual product-specific PEF reports involved in the PEF scheme. Possibilities for common information basis and coordination between environmental information sources for the various product policy instruments and the PEF should be explored. Cooperation between type 1 eco-labels like the Nordic Swan and the forthcoming PEF scheme(s) is important.




Nordic Contributions in IS Research


Book Description

This book contains the refereed proceedings of the 4th Scandinavian Conference on Information Systems (SCIS), held in Oslo, Norway, in August 2013. Participants were invited to discuss experiences of "digital living" within a multitude of empirical settings, covering questions like e.g. "how do people relate to each other when interaction is mediated through social networks?" or "what are the societal effects of ICT becoming ubiquitous in everyday situations?". The 6 papers accepted for presentation at the conference were selected from 18 submissions and address "digital living" from different perspectives.