Annukka OjalaDG Health and Consumer ProtectionEuropean Commission

Exchange of information about dangerous products via the RAPEX

system

The New General Product Safety Directive(2001/95/EC) - in force since 15 January 2004

GPSD applies to non-food consumer products, including

Products migrated from professional use

Products supplied within a service

Applies in its entirety to consumer products not covered by “sector” legislation

Applies partially to consumer products covered by “sector” legislation

RAPEX System

What does this mean in practice?

For consumer products not covered by “sector” legislation (exists for toys, electrical products, machinery, cosmetics etc.)

Product safety requirements

For nearly all consumer products: Safety management requirements for producers and

distributors Market surveillance obligations for Member States RAPEX-system Powers for Community emergency measures

RAPEX System

European Rapid Alert System (RAPEX)

Ensures that information about dangerous products identified in one Member State is quickly circulated to the other Member States and the Commission for appropriate follow-up

RAPEX Guidelines:

http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_safe/prod_safe/gpsd/operational_guidelines_en.htm

RAPEX System

Scope of RAPEX

Notifications from Member States on restrictive measures ordered by authorities or voluntary measures by business concerning consumer products causing a serious risk

Requirement of cross-border effect

Excludes: foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices

Overviews of RAPEX notifications:

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/dgs/health_consumer/dyna/rapex/rapex_archives.cfm

RAPEX System

42

31

1

2 3

RAPEX notification content

Information enabling identification of the product

Full description of the risk

Measures taken to prevent risks

Information for tracing the product

RAPEX System

Authority A Authority B

Authority C Authority D

Contact points in Member States

DG A DG B

DG C DG D

DGHealth and Consumer Protection

RAPEX System

Dangerous Products

RAPEX System

Transparency

Main rule access to information on dangerous productsWeekly RAPEX publication StatisticsLimited exceptions in justified cases (e.g., business secrets)

Statistics and weekly RAPEX publications:http://ec.europa.eu/comm/dgs/health_consumer/dyna/rapex/rapex_archives.cfm

RAPEX notifications 2002 - 2005

168139

468

847

84 67

388

701

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Art. 11+12+ INFO

Art. 12

RAPEX Statistics

January – September 2006: 755 notifications - 661 serious risk notifications

Article 12 notifications by Member State1st January - 30th September 2006)

112109

7169

5833

2929

2722

1210101099

765544332111

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

GermanyHungary

United KingdomGreece

SpainFinland

LithuaniaSlovakia

FranceCzech Republic

IrelandBulgariaSweden

NetherlandsPoland

PortugalBelgiumRomania

CyprusItaly

EstoniaLatvia

AustriaSlovenia

NorwayDenmark

LuxembourgMalta

100

50

20

10

Spain

9%Greece

10%

United Kingdom

11%

Hungary

16%

Germany

17%

54%

Categories of products notified under Article 12(1st January - 30th September 2006)

146136

9255

2924

18171515141313

95555554444433222111

0 50 100 150 200

ToysElectric appliances

Motor vehiclesLighting equipment

CosmeticsClothes

LightersHobby/sports equipments

Child care articlesOthers

Children's equipmentsFurniture

House-hold articlesDecorative articles

CandlesConstruction products

GadgetsKitchen/cooking accessories

Laser pointersTools

Computer hardwareGas appliances

Oil lampPersonal Protective

Machine tools accessoriesGarden furniture

JewelleryImitations productsRecreational crafts

StationaryChemical products

FireworksHeating appliances

50

10

Toys

22%

Electric

appliances

21%Motor

vehicles

14%

Lighting

equipment

8%

65%

186

182

136

119

63

41

6

5

4

4

0 50 100 150 200

Electric shock

Injury

Fire/burns

Choking/Suffocation

Chemical

Health risk

Bacteriologic

Explosion

Carcinogenic

Others

180

120

40

Fire/burns18%

Injury24%

Electric shock25%

Choking/Suffocation

16%

83%

Nature of the risks

Origin of the products notified under Article 12(1st January - 30th September 2006)

328146

10019

158775433222211111111

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

China (Incl. Hong KongEU25 & EFTA/EEA

UnknownJapan

USATaiwanTurkey

TailandRepublic of Korea

IndonesiaSwitzerland

CanadaVietnam

South AfricaPakistan

IsraelUkraine

New ZealandLebanon

Ivory coastEgyptBrazil

BangladeshAustralia

Thank you for your attention !

More information on the topic can be found on the Commission’s website:

http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_safe/index_en.htm

RAPEX System