In 2024, European Union (EU) countries received a record number of alerts about products that pose health risks, with the majority of them being cosmetics, according to a report published on Wednesday.
The European Commission received a total of 4,137 warning messages last year about dangerous non-food products. These warnings were issued through “Safety Gate,” the EU’s rapid alert system for dangerous products, excluding food items. The year 2024 marked the highest number of such alerts since the system’s launch.
Cosmetic products topped the list of health-risk items, with many found to contain banned harmful chemicals. One particular chemical, banned in the EU since 2022, was highlighted for affecting reproductive health and causing skin irritation.
The Safety Gate report frequently mentioned hazardous substances such as lead and nickel in jewelry, reactive fragrances in body oils, and plastic softeners in textiles.
Among all warnings, 36% were related to cosmetics, while 15% involved toys.
Although some EU countries withdrew certain cosmetic products from the market in 2024, no food items were included in the alert system. Food safety is monitored through a separate EU mechanism.
What’s Being Done?
Most of the non-cosmetic risky products were imported from China. EU Commissioner for Consumer Rights, Mícheál MacGrath, cited the widespread presence of Chinese online retailers like Shein and Temu, known for selling low-cost clothing and cosmetics, as a major factor.
He emphasized that the Commission aims to address the root cause of the issue and highlighted the importance of dialogue among regulatory authorities, businesses, and Chinese manufacturers to ensure safer products in the EU market.