Press Release: Consumers: Annual RAPEX Report 2009 shows efficiency of EU’s cooperation on dangerous products

The number of dangerous consumer products notified through the EU's rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products (RAPEX) rose by 7% in 2009 compared to 2008, the Commission's annual RAPEX report showed on 15 April 2010. This rise from 1,866 notifications in 2008 to 1,993 in 2009 shows that the capacity of the RAPEX system has increased again, following more effective market surveillance by Member States. European businesses are also taking their responsibilities in the consumer product safety area more seriously and recall their unsafe products from the market more readily. They are also beginning to use the dedicated rapid alert system for business ('Business Application') more systematically. Toys, clothing and motor vehicles were the most frequently notified products in 2009. In addition, the results of an EU market surveillance exercise involving 13 countries checking the safety of toys show that around 20% did not comply with the relevant safety requirements.

European Commission: Memo: MEMO/10/130: Questions and answers on the Community rapid information system for dangerous products (RAPEX) http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/130&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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