A Fair Deal for Consumers / Protecting Consumer Safety

Thirty European countries and the European Commission have joined forces to create the rapid alert RAPEX network, which allows them to notify each other quickly of products that pose a risk to consumers’ health and safety (food and medicines are covered by their own Rapid Alert Systems).

The system prevents products that pose a potential danger from being marketed. A recall can also be authorised under the system, in cases where products are already on the shelves.

Case Study: Children’s Toys

Teddy bears can easily turn out to be deadly if children can take them apart and choke on the filling or cut themselves on a sharp internal part.

Toys now form the biggest category of hazardous goods on sale. Recently released figures show a rapid rise in the number of dangerous goods withdrawn from sale across the European Union thanks to the EU-wide alert system to protect consumers, and increased cooperation with countries of origin of affected products.

According to the 2010 edition of the annual report on “Keeping European Consumers Safe,” 1963 goods were taken off shelves across the EU: a quarter of these were children’s toys. Recent product withdrawals have included action figures decorated using lead paint, teddy bears with metal spikes inside and mini motorbikes.

In 2009 the EU strengthened its own safety standards for toys, including restricting chemical substances used in products and greater availability of technical specifications from manufacturers and importers. This will help surveillance authorities to spot any potential defects more rapidly. More stringent requirements for product identification and traceability will also help should product recalls be necessary. The new rules apply from January 2011 (the requirements for chemical content from July 2013).

When purchasing toys, consumers should look for the CE label which means they comply with European standards.

Enforcement is a top priority of the EU Consumer Policy Strategy 2007-2013. In order to give a better view on the overall level of enforcement, (including the follow-up activities of the national market surveillance authorities) the Commission RAPEX team has decided to publish on its website the names of the countries that have found the notified product on their market and have taken appropriate measures.