EU axes more risky goods

Date article online: 22/04/2008

The number of dangerous products taken off European markets rose by 53 per cent last year, a new consumer safety report has revealed.

More than half involved items made in China, and more than a third were toys and childcare goods.

EU consumer commissioner, Meglena Kuneva, has held talks with the Chinese authorities and launched a sweeping review of the EU’s Rapex system, under which a dangerous product identified in one member state triggers an alert in all 27 countries.

Character Options withdrew its Chinese made Bindeez craft beads after children became ill and one girl was said to have sunk into a coma.

Children sprayed the beads with water to make patterns, but the reaction was believed to produce a chemical believed to be similar to a date rape drug.

Goods taken off shelves included a soft toy with a detachable zip-slider, a baking kit which contained icing that could cause food poisoning, a bubble machine which could cause a fire hazard and acid damage, a light-up rattle which was a choking hazard, and a children’s snow suit and jacket which had fasteners which could easily come off and be swallowed.

The commissioner, launching the annual report on product safety under Rapex, said the rise in detected dangerous goods showed that the system was working well, rather than that products were becoming riskier. Ms Kuneva commented: “Today’s Rapex report shows that more and more products are being detected and destroyed before they can harm EU consumers.

“Public authorities are clearly facing up to their responsibilities when it comes to consumer protection.

“The point of Rapex and our other safety mechanisms is to ensure that EU citizens can shop in peace, without having to worry about distinguishing safe products from dangerous ones.”