Press Release: Consumers: Risks from cords and drawstrings in children’s clothing

When EU consumers buy clothes for their children they should not have to worry about safety risks. A recent EU market surveillance exercise checked, in particular, the safety of children's clothes with cords and drawstrings, with which there can be a risk of strangulation, especially for children up to 7 years. Market surveillance authorities in 11 Member States inspected more than 16,000 such garments between 2008 and 2010, and the results published on 23 March 2010 by the European Commission show that 1 in 10 items were in breach of safety requirements under the relevant European standard. The main aim of the project was to reduce the amount of unsafe children's clothing on the EU market, whether produced in Europe or imported. It resulted in many RAPEX notifications and corrective measures have been taken. It also enabled Member States to gain experience in working together. National authorities will intensify their work to ensure compliance with the relevant safety requirements and to inform and educate economic operators and consumers.

European Commission: Memo: MEMO/10/98:Questions and Answers on Cords and drawstrings http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/98&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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