Leather Exports Must Prevent Excessive Hexavalent Chromium

Hexavalent chromium is an extremely toxic poison for swallowing and inhalation. It can invade the body through digestion, respiratory tract, skin and mucous membranes. Skin contact can cause allergies. Once sensitized, a concentration of 3 mg/kg is sufficient to trigger an allergic reaction; it is more likely to cause hereditary genetic defects, inhalation may cause cancer, and have a lasting risk to the environment.

Recently, a shoe company in Ningbo, Yuyao, Ningbo, Spain exported its leather safety boots by the European Union notified product of hexavalent chromium exceeding the standard, exceeding the standard materials involving the helper leather. After investigation, the main reason was that there was a problem with the quality of the leather provided by the leather supplier in the upstream of the company, and the company did not perform the inspection of the material when it was purchased.

According to statistics, this year, the EU's non-food rapid warning system (rapex) issued a total of 11 notifications for leather products, of which 10 were exceeding the standard for hexavalent chromium in leather materials, of which 7 were footwear notifications and 3 were gloves. Informed that the continuous occurrence of such incidents has sounded a warning to export leather companies.

It is reported that as early as December 2011, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) passed the new safety footwear standard eniso20345:2011, which stipulated that the content of hexavalent chromium does not exceed 3 mg/kg, and this regulation was officially put into force in June 2012. On March 26, 2014, the European Commission issued an official communique, revised Annex 17 of the Reach Regulation, and extended the restraint order for hexavalent chromium in leather products. The regulations require that the content of hexavalent chromium in leather products that are in direct contact with human skin shall not exceed 3mg/kg. For products containing leather parts, the content of hexavalent chromium in leather parts that are in contact with the human body must not exceed 3 mg/kg. Exceeding the requirements of the limited standards, it is forbidden to put on the market. The products affected include footwear, clothing, hats, wrist bands and toys. The regulations will be formally implemented on May 1, 2015.

The European Union’s efforts to strengthen the control requirements for hexavalent chromium in leather and other products will have a greater impact on shoe and other leather products manufacturing companies. The inspection and quarantine authorities recommend related companies: First, it must clarify the European Union’s requirements for hexavalent chromium and establish green standards. The concept of product production; second is to strengthen the quality of the procurement of raw and auxiliary materials acceptance, the detection of hexavalent chromium content of leather raw materials. The third is to strictly monitor the storage and transportation environment of raw materials and finished products to avoid the oxidation of trivalent chromium into hexavalent chromium. The fourth is to accelerate the introduction and development of new technologies and new processes and absorb the latest research results.