The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on Wednesday that it discovered hazardous and banned chemicals in numerous cosmetic products sold across Europe.
Based in Helsinki, the agency inspected nearly 4,500 cosmetic items from 13 European countries and found that 6% of these products—totaling 285—contained substances prohibited due to their harmful effects on health. The contaminants were identified in various products, including eyeliners, lip liners, conditioners, and hair masks, across all price ranges.
These harmful substances are banned under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants as well as EU regulations, with exposure linked to reduced fertility and an increased risk of cancer, the agency reported.
ECHA stated that the inspections primarily involved checking the ingredient lists of the products, emphasizing that consumers can also easily use this control measure. Following the inspections, enforcement authorities have acted to remove the non-compliant products from the market.
The inspections took place in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Romania, and Sweden.
