Brussels, 15/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - The new Community rules on the general safety of products entered into force in the European Union on Thursday, under the directive 2001/95/EC (modifying directive 92/59/EC). They aim to guarantee a high level of health and safety to consumers, whilst ensuring the smooth running of the internal market. Adopted in 2001, this directive lays down the safety checks to be carried out on all consumer products- sports and playground equipment, childcare articles, cigarette lighters, most household products such as textiles and furniture- with the exception of foodstuffs. It establishes the communication to the public of information collected by Member States and the Commission on product safety as a general rule, calls for greater co-operation between national authorities, reinforces the Community early warning scheme for dangerous products (Rapex), and provides for the option of involving third countries.
Welcoming the main advances of this new legislation, David Byrne, Commission for Health and Consumer Affairs, said in a press release: "for the first time, manufacturers will be legally obliged to inform the authorities when they perceive that one of their products is dangerous. Products identified as dangerous will be re-called and withdrawn from the market. Again for the first time, the Commission will be able, on its own initiative, to call for the withdrawal or the provisional ban of a product in order to guarantee the same level of protection throughout the Union". It was previously unable to launch Community action unless requested to do so by a Member State. Furthermore , any product which is subject to an emergency ban in the Union can no longer be exported to third countries.
Directive 2001/95/EC states the relation between its general rules, applicable to all products, and provisions applicable to specific products and sectors. An orientation document on the relation between this directive and the "Toys", "Low Tension", "Individual Protection Equipment" and "Cosmetic Products" directives is available from the Commission's website, at the following address: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/cons_safe/gpsd/guidance_gpsd_r.pdf.