Swedes douse off flame retardant ban

On a hot seat from the European Union's legal challenge, the Swedish government decided on May 8 to lift its ban on the use of Deca-BDE flame retardant in textiles, furnitures and some electronic cables.

According to the European Brominated Flame Retardant Industry Panel (EBFRIP), the ban imposed on late 2006 was inconsistent with the positive 10-year EU risk assessment of Deca-BDE which did not identify any significant risks justifying restrictions on the flame retardant.

"The EU has established that Deca-BDE is safe for continued use in all its applications, so there is no scientific basis whatsoever for any national or EU-wide restriction on Deca-BDE" said EBFRIP chairwoman Veronique Steukers.

EBFRIP is also asking the European Commission to exempt Deca-BDE from the EU's Restriction of Hazardous Substance (RoHS) directive to be consistent with the 10-year EU risk assessment on Deca-BDE.