Provision of Laboratory Services for Chemicals Market Surveillance to the EPA - Analysis of non-food consumer product samples for chemicals covered under RoHS, REACH and POPs legislation for the EPA

Summary

The EPA is responsible for a range of chemical market surveillance requirements including the REACH and Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation (POPs) Regulations and the Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) Directive. It is also responsible for taking the appropriate enforcement measures in cases where the results of market surveillance activities indicate that a product poses a risk to the environment. In 2025, the EPA will initiate planned market surveillance activities including the participation in EU co-ordinated market surveillance campaigns which will target product testing to identify non-compliance of non-food consumer products that have been placed or made available on the Irish market. The EPA is establishing a new framework for the procurement of laboratory analytical services to assist the EPA in conducting market surveillance campaigns. The services required include laboratory analysis of consumer products for chemical substances restricted under REACH, POPs and RoHS legislation. This analysis will be carried out at a specialised contracted laboratory with standardised methods, and where possible using accredited methods. It is expected that these product types could include electrical and electronic equipment, plastics, textiles and foams.