IP/09/190
Brussels, 29 January 2009

Consumers: EU to ban dimethylfumarate (DMF) in consumer products, such as sofas and shoes

The use of the biocide (DMF) dimethylfumarate – which has caused severe allergic reactions in hundreds of consumers, because of its use in every day consumer products such as couches and shoes – looks set to be banned across the EU. Today, Member States voted in favour of a draft European Commission Decision to ensure that consumer products, such as leather furniture or footwear, containing the strongly sensitising (DMF) are not placed on the market in the EU. If already on the market, these products will have to be recalled and withdrawn without delay. In countries such as France, Finland, Poland, Sweden and the UK, consumers exposed to products containing DMF, have experienced serious health problems including skin itching, irritation, redness, burns and, in some cases, acute respiratory difficult. The draft Commission decision is for an emergency EU wide measure, pending the adoption of a more permanent regulatory solution. Following today’s vote, the draft Commission decision will be submitted for consultation to the European Parliament before going before the College of Commissioners for final approval.

EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva, said: "There can be no compromise on safety. I am pleased to see that that the RAPEX system has been functioning well to ensure dangerous goods containing DMF are quickly removed from the market. But we need to go further with urgent EU action to tackle the problem at source. An EU wide ban on the use of DMF in all consumer goods is designed to eliminate the serious health risks and in particular the severe allergic reactions suffered by some consumers when they are exposed to this chemical simply by using everyday leather goods."