The number of dangerous consumer products withdrawn from EU markets rose by 7% in 2009 compared to 2008, according to the latest annual report on the bloc's rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products, RAPEX.
The EU executive said the rise was the result of more effective market surveillance by member states.
"What's happening is that the net is getting narrower and narrower and the system tighter and tighter, so we're catching more and more of the goods coming in," said Maltese Commissioner Dalli, presenting his first RAPEX report since assuming the portfolio from his predecessor, Bulgarian Meglena Kuneva, in the new year.
"As member states continue to develop their expertise, market surveillance can only get better," Dalli added.
The improved performance is also a sign that European businesses are taking their responsibilities regarding consumer products more seriously and are increasingly ready to recall unsafe products from the market, the EU executive explained.
Last year's report had shown that the number of dangerous products withdrawn from EU markets rose by 16% in 2008, and was also seized upon by the Commission as proof that the bloc's product safety standards were improving (EurActiv 21/04/09).
Indeed, the EU executive insists that the increase in the number of notifications this time around "does not mean that there are more dangerous goods on the European market".
Instead, "the constant growth in the number of notifications over the past six years is due to an increased awareness and the attention given to product safety by national authorities and the business sector, more frequent and more effective [checks] of consumer products on the market and joint market surveillance actions carried out by national authorities," reads the RAPEX report.
Consumer groups nevertheless warned that more needed to be done to ensure that Europe's consumers are adequately protected and called for safety to be kept "high on the agenda" of Europe's decision-makers.
"Once again, the number of alerts in the past year has increased and although this shows that better surveillance is taking place, it undoubtedly shows that there are still far too many dangerous products that are slipping through the net and making it onto the marketplace," said European consumers' organisation BEUC in response to this year's report.
Chinese toys top black list
The Commission received 1,993 notifications of dangerous goods last year, up from 1,866 the year before.
Toys (472 notifications; 28%), clothing and textiles (395; 23%) and motor vehicles (146; 9%) accounted for 60% of the recalled products, while electrical appliances (138 notifications) constituted the fourth most problematic category.
The entry into force last year of EU legislation to enhance market surveillance activities regarding cords and drawstrings in children's clothing prompted a sharp increase in the number of hazardous items of clothing detected.
Chemical hazards (493 notifications; 26%, injuries (405; 21%) and choking (261; 14%) were the most common risks to consumers identified by the report.
60% of the notifications relate to Chinese-made products compared to just 20% for goods manufactured in the EU, reflecting the fact that 80% of the toys in Europe are made in China.
Asked what the EU executive was doing to address the huge volume of dangerous Chinese goods entering the EU, Commissioner Dalli said "we believe there has already been progress vis-à-vis Chinese products coming into Europe. We're putting much more emphasis on ensuring that importers talk to their suppliers in China".
"I'll be speaking to the Chinese authorities to see what they're doing on respecting standards, which is a must for entry onto the EU market," Dalli said, adding: "We want them to continue with the progress they're making and we're going to increase vigilance here in Europe".
Spain tops notification charts
Spain was the country that recorded that highest number of notifications in 2009 (220; 13%), closely followed by Germany (187; 11%) and Greece (154; 9%).
"Spain is top because [the Spanish authorities] have invested more resources in surveillance," not because it is gateway for dangerous goods entering the EU, said Commissioner Dalli.
Asked about the possibility of introducing punitive measures on manufacturers and importers alike, Dalli claimed EU legislation already contained the necessary sanctions.
"It is up to the member states to implement them. The Commission can only make sure that sanctions are effective," he said.
