85,000 pieces of unsafe costume jewelry seized in emporiums.

The Voghera Financial Police seized 85,000 pieces of costume jewelry and aesthetic products deemed hazardous to health. The operation, conducted at three stores in Voghera and Torricella Verzate, led to the removal from sale of low-cost accessories such as pearls and rings, as well as aesthetic products that come into contact with the skin.

The products were seized because they "lacked the minimum safety requirements," specifically missing mandatory information on the hazardous substances they contained. Regulations require that items capable of releasing harmful substances display specific warnings for consumer protection.

The raid is part of the Financial Police's efforts to combat the trade of goods non-compliant with European safety standards, a phenomenon often involving low-cost imported products sold in small retail outlets.

The seizure of unsafe costume jewelry is part of a broader issue related to consumer product safety, particularly concerning low-cost items imported from countries with less stringent control standards. The European REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals), which came into effect in 2007, establishes precise rules to protect human health and the environment from the risks of chemical substances.

In the specific case of costume jewelry, the main risk stems from the release of heavy metals such as nickel, lead, or cadmium, which, through prolonged skin contact, can cause allergic reactions, dermatitis, or, in extreme cases, poisoning. For this reason, the law requires that these products display clear warnings when they contain potentially hazardous substances.

The Guardia di Finanza's checks on this type of merchandise have become more frequent in recent years, in parallel with the growth of low-cost product trade. Often, these are items imported in large quantities, sold at very low prices but lacking the necessary safety certifications. The consequences for those trading these products range from the seizure of goods and administrative sanctions to criminal proceedings for those who knowingly market items dangerous to public health.