Cadmium was added to a list of banned substances under the EU REACH Regulations last year.
The decision was, according to the European Commission, due to high levels of cadmium found in jewellery, particularly imported imitation jewellery from Asia.
The cadmium ban also applies to plastics. Prior to the decision, cadmium was previously allowed in rigid PVC, although most PVC manufacturers have voluntarily phased it out of their products. There will be an exemption included in the ban for low levels of cadmium which can be found in recycled or recovered PVC intended for use in construction projects.
However, NGOs such as ChemSec have criticised the exemption, saying that the benefits do not outweigh the risks posed by the presence of cadmium. The European Commissioner for the Environment, has defended the decision behind the exemption saying it will encourage recycling.
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