The main driver of deforestation and forest degradation is the expansion of agricultural land, which is linked to the production of seven commodities: cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya, and wood; and some of their derived products, such as leather or furniture.
There are many directives and regulations that address product compliance. Still it is practically impossible to cover all risks for all consumer products. The solution is a broad-based legislation to fill possible gaps and to complement existing and future legislation.
ESPR, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation provides the framework for more sustainable and circular products.
The EN 18031-series of standards will soon be harmonised and then provide a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements in Article 3(3) of the RED 2014/53/EU and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 on cybersecurity.
The PFHxA restriction enters into force on 10 October 2024, taking effect after transitional periods between 18 months and 5 years.
Overall, around 145,000 tonnes of microplastics are estimated to be used in the EU each year. And 42,000 tonnes of these microplastics end up in the environment from products intentionally containing them. The largest contribution with up to 16,000 tonnes is made by granules from artificial turf pitches.
Since Brexit, the UK CPR has superseded the regulation (EU) No. 305/2011 in England, Scotland and Wales. The European CPR will remain to apply in Northern Ireland. The EU CPR is subject to CE-marking and the UK CPR is subject to UKCA marking.
The impact of Brexit on product compliance is big. The basis for almost all United Kingdom (UK) product legislation was based on EU-law.
The UK Cosmetics Regulation is applicable to cosmetics products sold in England, Scotland and Wales. Cosmetics products placed on the market in Northern Ireland are still covered by the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.
Food Contact Materials (FCMs) are materials that are intended to be in contact with food. Prior to Brexit, certain EU laws for FCMs took effect in the UK. This EU legislation is still the basis for UK legislation.
The EU Single Market consists of the Member States of the EU. The objective is that within the EU Single Market, products, capital, services and people can flow freely from one Member State to another Member State.
BREXIT affects the business for consumer products on the UK market dramatically. The legal obligations that apply to consumer products under EU REACH are extensive. The same goes for UK REACH applicable on the UK market.