Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that are harmful to humans and exist in or accumulate within the bodies of animals and plants, and circulate in the natural environment over extended periods. POPs are naturally occurring or synthetic organic pollutants characterized by persistence, bioaccumulation, semi-volatility, and high toxicity. POPs include pesticides, industrial chemicals, and by-products unintentionally generated during industrial processes. These pollutants can travel long distances through various environmental media (air, water, organisms), crossing borders and affecting human health and ecosystems even in areas where POPs were never used or produced, causing significant global harm.

PAHs Testing

Phthalates is a general term for compounds that result from the reaction of phthalic anhydride and alcohol. Such substances are mainly employed as plasticizers making plastics and rubber more pliable. They are widely used in electronic and electrical equipment (EEE), toys, coatings, inks, garments, packaging materials, detergents, lubricants, and personal care articles. But when the concentration of phthalates exceeds a certain level, it may disrupt the endocrine system of human bodies, bringing harm to the development and health of children.

To comply with California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (Proposition 65), companies must conduct a scientific exposure risk assessment for substances listed in the Proposition 65 List that may be present in their products. This provides a clear, step-by-step framework to help companies determine if their products require a "clear and reasonable" warning label. The core of the assessment involves quantifying human exposure doses and comparing them with official safety thresholds. A complete exposure assessment typically follows the steps below, combining model estimation and experimental testing.

On January 29, 2026, the European Commission published Directive (EU) 2026/192, amending the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC to permit the use of cobalt in three specific applications within toys.

The Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (LHAMA) requires all art materials to be evaluated for chronic health hazards. Materials posing such risks must have appropriate warning labels. This law applies to all art materials, not just those for children. Under U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations (16 CFR §1500.14(b)(8)), art materials must undergo LHAMA assessment and labeling in accordance with ASTM D4236.

The Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (LHAMA) requires all art materials to be evaluated for chronic health hazards. Materials posing such risks must have appropriate warning labels. This law applies to all art materials, not just those for children. Under U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations (16 CFR §1500.14(b)(8)), art materials must undergo LHAMA assessment and labeling in accordance with ASTM D4236.

Effective January 1, 2026, the supporting standard for China RoHS implements its Amendment No. 1.

In 2025, the global Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) experienced explosive growth! On December 23, the International EPD System (IES) released statistics showing that the number of effective registrations exceeded 18,000, with 9,395 new additions throughout the year.

On 12 December 2025, the Official Journal of the European Union published the new EU Toy Safety Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/2509). This Regulation will replace Directive 2009/48/EC and will apply from 1 August 2026.