Dimethyl fumarate in leather articles: risks and european legislation

Dimethyl fumarate in leather articles: risks and european legislation

Dimethyl fumarate is the methyl ester of fumaric acid.

It is a biocide and it is an harmful compound used as ant-mould in some articles.

It is used in particular to eliminate moulds that can cause degradation of furnitures or of leather’s footwear during shipping in humid atmosphere or the storage.

It is wrapped in bag usually inserted on interior of furnitures or on footwear box, the Dimethyl fumarate evaporates and it soaks the leather creating a protection against moulds. The issue is that it causes serious consequences on customers that come in contact with this products.

Dimethyl fumarate, in fact, has been found to be an allergic sensitizers at very low concentrations, producing extensive, pronounced eczema that is difficult to treat. Concentrations as low as 1 ppm may produce allergic reactions

The compound carries through the clothes and contacts the skin of customers causing allergic reactions.

This chemical was detected and aroused concern when a large number of notifications received by competent authorities through the RAPEX system.

Reports of skin redness, allergies and even burns were related to sofas, furniture and shoes and the cause was detected in Dimethyl fumarate.

France and Belgium were the first states and then to take action on it, followed by Spain. A new decision by the European Commission to cover all member states was adopted in January 2009.

Currently the Dimethyl fumarate is prohibited in the manufacture of articoliall'interno because of the biocidal products containing Dimethyl fumarate are not allowed (as per Directive 98/8/EC).

The problem stems from products manufactured outside the territory where such substance is not regulated and the risk is due to imports.

In the European Union the use of dimethyl fumarate for consumer products has been forbidden since 1998, and since January 2009 the import of products containing dimethyl fumarate is also forbidden

The EU Commission Decision 2009/251 of 17 March 2009 requiring Member States to ensure that products containing the biocide dimethylfumarate are not placed or made available on the market has definitely forbidden any marketing of products containing DMF into the European Union. The ban on DMF as laid down in Decision 2009/251 establishes a maximum concentration of DMF in products of 0,1 ppm. Products containing more than 0,1 ppm DMF shall be withdrawn from the market and recalled by consumers as of 1 May 2009.

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