The European Union (EU) has recalled some hand
disinfectants, otherwise known as hand sanitizers, from markets following
market surveillance.
Several hand disinfectants have been
withdrawn from sale across the EU under RAPEX, the EU’s rapid alert system for
dangerous non-food products. Market surveillance found these products to be
non-compliant in various ways, rendering them potentially dangerous to human
health.
Non-compliant products are subject to:
- Recall
from end users - Prior
conditions before marketing - Removal from
online marketplace listings - Withdrawal
from the market
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According to recent RAPEX reports, the
three main reasons for non-conformity were:
- Chemical
risk – some products contained methanol, which is an acute toxic substance that
is harmful to the eyes and nervous system. Ingestion or skin contact can cause
blindness or death - Health
risk – the product contains insufficient active substance (e.g. ethanol or
propan-2-ol) to kill bacteria or inactivate viruses, thereby increasing the
risk of infection for the user - Fire risk
– the products lacked appropriate hazard pictograms and warnings. Products
containing alcohol do pose a risk of fire if they are in the presence of an
ignition source and so they must display the appropriate hazard pictograms and
warnings as contained in the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP)
Regulation and Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR)
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Manufacturers and suppliers of hand
disinfectants are advised to now check their products conform to the latest EU
regulations.
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Personal Care Testing Services
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