Brussels, 24/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - Consumer Policy Commissioner Meglena Kuneva is planning to boost the surveillance of imports at European ports to ensure they are safe before entering the EU market. To this end, the Commissioner visited the EU's biggest port, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, on 23 April, which imports and exports more than any other port in the EU (some 377 million tonnes a year), also visiting the Dutch Food and Product Safety Authority).
Kuneva said that more than 90% of products enter the EU through ports and it is therefore crucial that external borders are monitored at ports like Rotterdam. She said the customs authorities could play a very important role in beefing up product safety requirements. Calling for greater efforts in this connection, the Commissioner said that in 2008, the Commission would be paying particular attention to facilitating cooperation among customs authorities and surveillance authorities, particularly when it comes to training customs officers about product safety issues, the exchange of information on dangerous products and amending EU rules on practical cooperation among competent authorities. (an)