Brussels, 04/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has published guidelines for using the EU's Rapid Information System on dangerous consumer products (RAPEX). In its guidelines, the Commission stipulates that national authorities must make a notification of any danger alert. It provides practical guidance on how to make such a notification and the different deadlines to be kept.
The Commission already receives four to six notifications of dangerous product alert each week. The dangers presented often include risks of choking and suffocation, electric shocks and fires. The system was enlarged when the directive on product security came into effect on 15 January. The directive makes it an obligation for companies to notify any danger to the authorities responsible for consumer protection. Since February, the Commission has published a weekly list of dangerous product alerts received.