Examples of joke products include sneezing powder and stink bombs.
Dangerous substances are prohibited
The use of dangerous liquid chemical substances or products in joke products is prohibited.
Chemical substances are considered dangerous if they are toxic, carcinogenic, corrosive, flammable or cause congenital damage.
Other prohibited substances
The following substances are also banned in joke products, such as sneezing powder and stink bombs:
- Powder produced from the bark of the Quillaja plant (Quillaja seponaia) and derived compounds containing saponin.
- Powder produced from hellebore plants (Helleborus viridis, Helleborus niger, Veratrum album and Veratrum nigrum).
- Benzidine and derived compounds.
- O-Nitrobenzaldehyde.
- Sawdust
- Ammonium sulphide.
- Ammonium hydrogen sulphide.
- Ammonium polysulphide.
- Volatile bromoacetate esters (methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl bromoacetate).
Furthermore, the above-mentioned products that contain the prohibited substances must not be marketed.
Regulations aim to protect against hazard
The regulations exist to avoid damage to the environment and injury to humans through contact with dangerous chemical substances or products. Dangerous substances are therefore banned from joke products.
Importers, producers and distributors are responsible
Anyone who sells, imports or produces joke products is responsible for ensuring compliance with the regulations, as set out in the Statutory Order.
Control
The Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s chemical inspectors monitor compliance with the regulations and will ensure that illegal situations are brought into compliance. This may involve withdrawing the product from the Danish market, or making the product legal in some other way. Anyone who breaches the regulations may additionally face a fine or prison sentence of up to two years.
More information
Restrictions on joke and novelty items are described in Annex XVII, No. 3, 9, 10, 11, and 40 in the EU's chemical legislation REACH (Regulation EC No. 1907/2006). (EUX-lex)
Classification and labelling according to the CLP regulation can be found in: The European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures and amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC and amending Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 .(EUX-lex)