Dangerous EU imports
March 25, 2014
In 2013, EU member countries notified 2,364 non-food products as potentially dangerous, with the warnings being made through the bloc's Rapid Alert System (RAPEX).
Toys, textiles, clothing and fashion items in general were the largest group of goods found to pose a danger, the Commission's annual report said Tuesday. Among the identified problems were chemical, strangulation, injury and choking risks.
Examples included collapsing pushchairs for small children and tattoo ink containing banned chemicals.
China topping the list
"European consumers already benefit from one of the highest levels of product safety in the world," Consumer Policy Commissioner Neven Mimica said in a statement. "Nevertheless, non-compliant, unsafe consumer goods still circulate on the market in Europe," he said, warning every actor must "remain vigilant."
Mimica pointed out that #two thirds of the notified products originated in China, with the rate up from 58 percent a year earlier.
"We're really working closely with the Chinese authorities, because we need to develop and to deliver our concept of safety at source," the commissioner argued, adding that Chinese authorities had been quite responsive to EU criticism in this respect.
Most RAPEX notifications were registered in Hungary, followed by Germany, Spain, Bulgaria and the UK.
hg/hc (dpa, AFP)