Consumer products containing biocide dimethylfumarate can no longer be placed on the market in the European Union (EU) as of May 1, the European Commission said on Thursday.

The ban was put into place by a commission's decision which will come into force Friday after a number of cases of health risk relating to the chemical were reported in the 27-nation bloc.

The commission said the biocide dimethylfumarate has caused severe allergic reactions, including skin itching, irritation, redness, burns and, in some cases, acute respiratory difficulties, in hundreds of consumers in the EU because of its use in imported every day consumer products such as couches and shoes.

If already on the market, these products will have to be recalled and withdrawn without delay, and consumers will have to be informed about the serious risk.

Dimethylfumarate is used by producers as a biocide to kill moulds that may cause products such as furniture or shoes to deteriorate during storage or transportation in a humid climate.