Swedish initiative to disable NPE in textile and apparel products in EU countries

A few days ago, Sweden notified the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) that the Swedish Chemicals Agency (Kemi) would draft a document on nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (NPE) and set out the justification for prohibiting the import of NPE-containing textiles into the European Union. It is planned to submit ECHA by August 2012.

This move by Sweden may eventually lead to the European Union’s complete ban on the sale of textiles containing NPE. Kemi estimates that it may take only two years to include the ban in the European Chemicals Registration, Evaluation, and Licensing Regulations (REACH).

NPE is widely used in printing and dyeing and cleaning processes in the textile industry. In addition to the textile industry, NPE can also be used as a surfactant, cleaner. Once this substance enters the environment, it rapidly decomposes into the more toxic environmental hormone, NP, which is nonylphenol. The EU restrictions on the use of NPEs and exceptions are set out in Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation. The annex states that NPE shall not be placed on the market, and its concentration shall not exceed 0.1% of the mass when it is used in textiles, leather processing, metal processing, etc. In textiles and leather processing, if NPE is not released into the wastewater and a special wastewater treatment system can completely remove the substances, the concentration of NPE used can be higher than allowed.

Various studies have shown that even if the concentration of NPE emissions is very low, it is extremely dangerous. The generated environmental hormones, once they enter the food chain, will be amplified step by step through the food chain. After the submission of relevant documents from Sweden, once ECHA banned the sale of textiles containing NPE, it would inevitably have a major impact on the majority of textile enterprises in China. The inspection and quarantine authorities recommended related companies to actively look for alternative raw materials and open export channels while paying close attention to the dynamic changes in EU regulations; establish environmental awareness, increase safety management and control, reduce the pollution of waste water and waste to the environment, and increase product inspection efforts. Avoid export obstacles caused by residual or excessive components.