Backgroud

　　Furniture and footwear available on the market in several Member States have been identified as the cause of damage to the health of consumers in France, Poland,Finland, Sweden and the UK.According to clinical tests the health damage was caused by the chemical dimethylfumarate (DMF), a biocide preventing moulds that may deteriorate leather furniture or footwear during storage or transport in a humid climate.

　　Brief introduction of DMF

　　DMF was most often contained in little pouches fixed inside the furniture or added to the footwear boxes. It thus evaporated and impregnated the product, protecting it from moulds. However, it then also affected consumers who were in contact with the products. DMF penetrated through the clothes onto consumers’ skin where it caused painful skin contact dermatitis, including itching, irritation, redness, and burns; in some cases, acute respiratory troubles were reported. The dermatitis was particularly difficult to treat. The presence of DMF is thus a serious risk.

　　Requirement

　　DMF in products should be determined against the maximum limit of 0,1 mg DMF per kg of product or part of the product.