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Miljøstyrelsens Kemikalieinspektion - årsberetning 2001 7 Summary and conclusionsThe Chemical Inspection Service is in charge of Danish EPA supervision of legislation regulating chemicals in Denmark: Act on Chemical Substances and Products, ministerial orders, and regulations and circulars issued under the Act. High priority areas of the Chemical Inspection Service are:
The Chemical Inspection Service offers general – and in some cases individual – guidance on chemicals regulation. Information activities were directed towards private citizens, enterprises, other supervision authorities etc. The Danish EPA Chemicals Hotline Call Service - operated by the Chemical Inspection Service – answered 2539 calls in 2001, more than 300 more calls than in 2000. The service was used primarily by enterprises and private persons seeking information on chemicals regulation and on aspects of health related to chemical products. In three cases the Danish EPA found it necessary to issue a press release, in order to warn against illegal products that present a danger to consumers because of their chemical properties: toys containing large concentrations of phthalates, henna tattoo colours likely to cause allergic reactions, and creme containing a potent steroid hormone. In two press releases the Chemical Inspection Service informed about findings of cadmium in plastic bags and shower curtains. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal. Supervision and enforcement of chemicals regulation are core objectives of the Chemical Inspection Service. In 2001 the Inspection Service launched 11 campaigns focussing on pesticides, toys, cosmetics, certain restrictions on use, and classification and labelling of certain chemical products. Eight of 20 samples of toys were found to contain large concentrations of phthalates. Enforcement reports from competing enterprises, consumer organisations and private persons were considered in the Chemical Inspection Service. In 2001 the Service received 169 reports, slightly less than the 203 reports in 2000. Most reports were about cosmetics (35.5%). In 36 cases the Chemical Inspection Service found – after thorough examination of the products – that the chemicals rules had not been violated. A total of 11 reports, five about cosmetics, were handed over to public prosecution. In 2001, 15 criminal cases of infringement of chemicals regulations were concluded. 14 cases resulted in fines, and in one case the accused was acquitted. The level of fines was 500-50,000 DKK or 65-6.500 Euro - the largest fine in connection with illegal import of pesticides. In September 2001 the Chemical Inspection Service took part in a meeting in CLEEN (Chemical Legislation European Enforcement Network) in Vienna. Participating countries reported on their achievements in the EuroCad project on cadmium in consumer products made of plastic. At European level one of seven samples were found to contain more cadmium than stipulated in the EU Directive. The illegal products were imported mostly from South East Asia. The meeting decided that the future common European project will deal with classification and labelling of dangerous chemical products. In September 2001 the Chemical Inspection Service took part in the annual meeting of the Nordic inspection authories. The countries reported on their results in the common enforcement project on carcinogenic and mutagenic substances and substances that may be harmful to reproduction (CMR) in consumer products. It was decided to implement a new inspection project on classification and labelling of textile detergents.
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