“You do not know about the health risks” • Toxic and illegal mosquito repellents are sold online
Finnish customs warns of a growing trend where private individuals order home toxic and unauthorized mosquito repellent from foreign online stores.
Also in Sweden, mailings are stopped with unauthorized pesticides, according to the Swedish Chemicals Agency.
– When you do not buy products that are not approved, you do not know about the health risks or if they are effective, says inspector Jenny Karlsson.
More and more Finns are ordering toxic and unauthorized mosquito repellent from online stores outside the EU – it warns Finnish customs. Last year, the authority stopped over 500 shipments that may contain dangerous and unknown chemicals that are harmful to humans and the environment.
In Sweden, too, it appears that private individuals are trying to import mosquito agents that are not approved.
– It also happens in Sweden that consumers buy illegal mosquito agents and other pesticides, says Jenny Karlsson, inspector at the Swedish Chemicals Agency.
Contains unknown chemicals
E-commerce has increased sharply in recent years, and with the risk that private individuals buy unauthorized products where health risks, efficiency and security are not evaluated, says Jenny Karlsson.
– These are quite tough requirements, but you have not looked at these things if you buy funds that are not approved, especially outside the EU that have a completely different legislation, she says.
Last year, the Swedish Customs Administration submitted some 20 requests for suspected illegal mosquito repellent to the Swedish Chemicals Agency.
– When you do not buy products that are not approved, you do not know about the health risks or if they are effective, says Jenny Karlsson.
So do you know that the mosquito agent is approved
To be sure that a mosquito repellent is legal, Jenny Karlsson recommends that you shop from established and well -known stores.
– If you shop from pharmacies you can be quite safe, but if you shop from Amazon or other marketplace, there is a greater risk that it is an illegal mosquito repellent.
She also emphasizes that a mosquito repellent should have a registration number on the packaging – usually four digits – which shows that it is safe to use in Sweden.
– It is difficult to see when shopping on the web. You don’t always see the whole label there so it’s a problem, she says.
At the same time, the Customs Administration states that they have limited support for prioritizing control of pesticides and that there is no systematic control of such products within the EU.