Sweden warns public on unsafe emergency products containing prohibited chemical substances

On 11 December 2025, the Swedish Chemicals Agency published the results of an inspection project examining the chemical safety of emergency preparedness products sold on the Swedish market. The review covered 92 emergency products, including emergency radios, flashlights, water filters and survival kits, and revealed significant compliance concerns. Overall, 47% of the inspected emergency preparedness products contained prohibited substances or substances exceeding permitted concentration limits, a proportion notably higher than typically observed in regulatory inspections. The Agency highlighted that the growing market for emergency supplies, driven by increased concerns about war and crisis preparedness, had not previously been subject to targeted chemical inspections. This prompted authorities to assess whether such products comply with EU chemical legislation and are safe for consumers. According to the Agency, the presence of banned substances not only poses risks to human health and the environment but also signals poor product quality, which is particularly problematic for items intended for use in emergencies. The most common violation involved lead, a toxic substance known to damage the nervous system, especially in children. Other frequently detected substances included short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), suspected carcinogens that are persistent in the environment, and banned phthalates such as DEHP and DBP, which may affect reproductive health and disrupt hormones. Cadmium was also identified in some products. The inspection project also included 25 child protection products, bringing the total number of analysed items to 117, of which 40% contained excessive levels of prohibited substances. As a result, 25 Swedish companies were reported for suspected environmental offences, 18 companies were issued environmental sanction fees, and thousands of non-compliant products were removed from the market. The Agency advised consumers to avoid extremely cheap products, purchase goods from reputable EU-based sellers, and ensure electrical products carry CE marking. Companies were urged to source products only from suppliers with documented knowledge of EU chemical requirements.