Consumer Concerned Products Containing Specific Organotin Compounds

Since July of this year, the European Union has implemented the 2009/425/EC Directive, which has officially begun to limit the use of specific organotin compounds in consumer products. Directive 2009/425/EC stipulates that since July 1, 2010, the European Union has restricted the use of tributyltin and triphenyltin compounds in all consumer products. The limit is that the concentration of tin in the commodity is less than 0.1% by mass. If a violation is detected, the batch of consumer goods will be subject to a return and even a severe recall penalty.

The organotin compounds of interest in this directive include tributyltin, triphenyltin compounds, dibutyltin, and dioctyltin compounds, of which the official beginning of the first two restrictions is July 1, 2010, and the latter two are January 1, 2012. The above four organotin compounds are widely used in consumer products, such as insoles for footwear, antibacterial finishing of socks and sportswear, additives in the production of polyurethane foam, stabilizers in the production of PVC, or in the production of silicone rubber. Catalyst and so on. According to statistics, in the actual production process, 10% to 20% of the world's tin production is used for synthesizing organic tin compounds, and thus the extent of application of this substance can be seen. And organotin compounds are harmful to organisms and cause diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

According to statistics, in the first half of 2010, Ningbo Port exported a total of 62,413 batches of goods to the European Union, totaling US$1.572 billion, which represents an increase of 27.0% and 26.6%, respectively, over the same period of 2009, showing a good upward trend, among which the flagship The fist products include textiles, toy products, food contact materials, etc. These products may have organic tin compounds added during production and processing. If these potential products containing organotin compounds are not detected through testing, they may cause The consequences of large-scale returns and even recalls will seriously affect the reputation of “Made in China” in the EU, and will eventually have unpredictable and vicious consequences for Sino-European trade that is in the process of gradual recovery.

For this reason, the inspection and quarantine department reminds: First, manufacturers of consumer products exported to Europe must strengthen the management of raw and auxiliary materials and production processes, and require suppliers of raw and auxiliary materials to provide testing reports that do not contain organotin compounds, and actively improve processing. Processes ensure that no organic tin compounds are added throughout the production process. Second, related companies should actively cooperate with government functional departments to obtain more knowledge of toxic and hazardous substances detection technologies and testing standards, and stabilize their technical reserves; The inspection and quarantine departments should intensify efforts in sampling and testing organotin compounds of related commodities to ensure effective supervision; in addition, the inspection and quarantine authorities may consider strengthening the management of toxic and hazardous substances with the EU at the international level. The exchange of information and effective cooperation to grasp the latest trends in the development of foreign toxic and hazardous substances, in order to facilitate the company to carry out various technological innovation and management changes.