Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:**
Belgian authorities are cracking down on toxic costume jewelry after tests revealed one-third of imports contain illegal levels of lead and cadmium. With most items sold cheaply online from China, regulators are tightening controls and vowing harsher penalties to protect public health.
By RTL info with Laura Van Lerberghe and Steve Damman.
Updated on October 29 at 06:42
Sold at low prices, one-third of costume jewelry imported into Belgium contains heavy metals far exceeding European standards. Faced with this health risk, Belgian authorities are strengthening controls and promising stricter penalties against negligent importers.
Behind their sparkle, costume jewelry, prized for its attractive price, may hide a threat. Mostly imported from China and sold online, these pieces often contain toxic substances like lead and cadmium, two harmful heavy metals. These findings, revealed during a segment broadcast on our channel, are alarming Belgian authorities.
Serge Smetz, Inspector for the Federal Public Service Health, stated:
Each week, specific checks are carried out by the federal environmental inspection. At Brussels Airport, Serge Smetz, inspector for the Federal Public Service Health, analyzes jewelry already intercepted by customs.
Cadmium, if it accumulates in the body over the long term, can cause cancers, genetic mutations, and kidney disorders. As for lead, its impact on fertility and fetal development is equally alarming. Its potentially irreversible neurological effects reinforce the urgency to act. For these reasons, European standards on chemical products are very strict.
To strengthen consumer safety, the government wants to increase controls. To protect consumers, the Environment Minister aims to double the number of checks on these products by 2026.
In parallel, higher fines could be imposed on importers who break the rules.
The figures speak for themselves: this year, approximately 30% of costume jewelry checked exceeds legal limits in Belgium. Some items even show such high levels of heavy metals that they represent an ‘extraordinary’ danger, according to inspectors. A worrying reality, especially for products often bought in good faith.
Faced with this risk, consumers are advised to take certain precautions. Check the origin of products, alternate the jewelry you wear, avoid any contact with the mouth or wounds, and keep them away from children—these are simple steps to minimize risks. These recommendations aim to limit exposure to toxic substances in costume jewelry.
