More dangerous goods withdrawn from EU shelves 

The number of dangerous products withdrawn from EU markets rose by 16% in 2008, according to the latest annual report on the bloc's rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products, RAPEX. 

"A 16% increase means that the RAPEX system is working better and the overall capacity is increasing," according to Commissioner Kuneva. "It means that fewer dangerous consumer goods, particularly toys, are slipping through the net." 

Presenting the report's findings, Kuneva said member states were being "more active" and were better targeting their inspections, and praised business for taking its responsibilities "more seriously" by withdrawing goods from the market more readily. 

Toys pose biggest threat… 

The Commission received 1,866 notifications of dangerous goods last year, up from 1,605 the year before. Toys made up a third of the recalled products (32%). Electrical appliances (11%), motor vehicles (10%) and clothing, textiles and fashion items (9% altogether) were the other most problematic categories. 

Last year's report, published in April 2008 and taking 2007 as the reference year, had also concluded that EU product safety standards were improving (EurActiv 18/04/08). 

The EU executive said the total number of notifications had risen because the "capacity of the RAPEX system had substantially increased again in 2008, following a substantial investment of resources and training by the European Commission and member states". 

…particularly if Chinese-made 

Most of the dangerous goods on the EU market come from China. 59% of last year's notifications concerned Chinese-made products, up from 52% in 2007 and 49% in 2006. 

The EU executive put the rise down to market surveillance authorities' increased focus on "product categories known to be of higher risk" and "more effective cooperation between the EU and China". 

Commissioner Kuneva said Beijing had investigated "about half" of the complaints made against its products last year. "I'm not satisfied, but in 2007 the figure was zero, so it's an improvement." 

Economic crisis poses 'challenge' 

The commissioner called on businesses to "continue to respect their duties toward consumers" and on EU member states to "allocate sufficient resources to enforcement". 

"This report sends a very clear message that there is no room for complacency when it comes to safety. The biggest challenge for 2009 is to make sure that product safety is not set aside during this period of economic crisis," she said. 

"At times of […] crisis, when price becomes a very prominent factor in consumer spending, we need to step up our efforts and keep our vigilance especially high," Kuneva warned, adding that "safety is not a luxury". 

'More checks needed' 

To properly address the issue of dangerous goods originating from China, Monique Goyens, director-general of EU consumer organisation BEUC, told EurActiv that more cooperation between national supervision authorities was needed. 

"There is no use in having sophisticated legislation at EU level if it is not enforced at Europe's borders. More powers should be given to enforcement authorities so they can block things, because once they're on the market, it's too late," Goyens said. 

Indeed, the RAPEX report shows that many more checks are needed before goods enter the European Union, she explained, but warned that the authorities do not currently have the means to check the "tons of products" arriving at EU borders every day. "Most of the time, [problems] happen by accident," she said. 

EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said "this report sets out clearly the significant challenges we face and sends a clear signal that there is no place for cost-cutting or cutting corners when it comes to safety." 

"Trust and confidence in the market is the new currency of the modern economy," Kuneva continued. 

Monique Goyens, director-general of EU consumer organisation BEUC, told EurActiv that is was "normal" that over half of RAPEX notifications concerned China. "Most RAPEX problems relate to toys and electrical appliances, and 80% of the world's toy production is in China," she said. 

Asked what more could be done to address the China situation, Goyens said that "preventing [dangerous goods] from leaving the country is better than preventing them from entering the EU". "But this takes time, of course," she added. 

"There is a Memorandum of Understanding between the EU, US and China. It's called the 'RAPEX China' system and the Chinese authorities have agreed to enforce their own checks, which is better," she said. 

Goyens warned of problems related to product traceability. "There is a lot of re-routing being done, so you're not sure, when something comes out of India, that it did not in fact come from China. But I'm thinking about counterfeiting and organised crime here, too. RAPEX is not necessarily about this."