Sweden Promotes EU Textile And Apparel Products To Ban NPE

A few days ago, Sweden informed the European Chemicals authority (ECHA) that the Swedish chemicals Administration (Kemi) would draft a document on nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (NPE), listing the EU's rationale for prohibiting the import of NPE textiles, and planning to submit it to ECHA by August 2012.

Sweden's move will eventually lead to a total ban on the sale of textiles containing NPE from the EU. Kemi estimates that it would take only two years to incorporate the ban into the European chemicals registration, assessment and Licensing Regulation (REACH regulations).

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 surfactants and detergents. Once this substance enters the environment, it will quickly break down into a stronger environmental hormone, NP, which is nonylphenol. The EU's restrictions on the use of NPE and exceptions are contained in Annex XVII of the REACH code. It is stated in the annex that the NPE should not be put on the market for textile and leather processing and metal processing. Its concentration should not exceed 0.1% of the quality. In textile and leather processing, if the NPE is not released into the waste water, and the special wastewater treatment system can completely remove these substances, the NPE concentration can be higher than the permitted level.

Various studies have shown that even if NPE emissions are low, it is also very dangerous. Once the environmental hormone comes into the food chain, it will gradually enlarge through the food chain. Once the relevant documents of Sweden are submitted, once ECHA prohibits the sale of textiles containing NPE, it is bound to have a major impact on the vast number of textile enterprises in China. The inspection and quarantine department suggests that enterprises concerned should pay close attention to the dynamic changes of EU regulations while actively looking for alternative raw materials to open export channels, establish environmental awareness, increase safety control and control, reduce environmental pollution caused by waste water and waste, and increase product testing efforts so as to avoid export blockage due to residual or excessive ingredients.