Brussels, 17/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - Meglena Kuneva, the European commissioner for consumer policy, chose China as the first country she would visit for an official visit. Her visit on 22-26 July will include discussions with the Chinese authorities about the safety of non-food products exported to the EU. This was no random choice of country: the annual 2006 report on dangerous products, published by the Commission last April revealed that almost half of the cases highlighted by RAPEX, the EU's early warning system on non-food consumer goods, came from China, accounting for 440 notifications, 48% of the total (EUROPE 9410). As a result, the commissioner subsequently announced her intention to visit the country.
Kuneva intends to use this visit to extend cooperation and to develop the dialogue on product safety, on the basis of the EU/China memorandum of understanding on the subject, and the toy safety road map signed in September 2006 between the Commission and China (EUROPE 9268).
The meeting with Li Changjian, the minister for quality control, inspections and quarantine, is in charge of monitoring the markets and allocating of import/export certificates, will take up most of this week's work. A meeting with Mr Zhou Bohua, the Chinese minister for industry and trade, is also planned. Kuneva will also meet representatives from industry and consumer associations and visit toy factories and test laboratories.
Stefano Soro, the head of product and services safety and in charge of RAPEX at the Commission's Directorate General SANCO, will accompany Commissioner Kuneva. He considers that the number of dangerous products identified on the European market should not be misinterpreted. At a press conference announcing Ms Kuneva's visit, Soro explained: “We have observed that half of all non-food, non-pharmaceutical and non-medical products notified via RAPEX are Chinese but that does not mean that we are witnessing a flood of dangerous Chinese products. Chinese exports to Europe doubled between 2003-06 but despite this, the number of projects subject to restrictive measures in Europe (Ed: warnings to consumers, market withdrawal measures) remains stable. Chinese products are over-represented as RAPEX has identified products that China has on a substantial part of the market in Europe, such as imported toys (accounting for €10bn a year), as well as lighting and small electric household goods”.
Although Chinese toothpaste contains diethylene glycol (a toxic substance used as an anti-freeze) and which made world news after having been discovered on many different markets, including Europe, the alarm, sounded by the Europeans, enabled the Chinese authorities to impose banning measures. Soro also pointed out that the Chinese are committed to using the computer assisted tools with which the Commission has provided them. This gives them on-line access to the list of all Chinese products notified by RAPEX, as well as the name of their manufacturers. Soro added, “We had problems starting. It was only in autumn 2006 that everything was launched. We have a memorandum of understanding and want results in certain areas: follow-up of action launched by the Chinese authorities, and improvements in the reputation of Chinese products”.
Kuneva appealed to the Chinese authorities to make full use of the information that the Commission provided it with in order to take corrective measures at the source of the problem. Helen Kearns, the spokesperson for the commissioner, explained that Ms Kuneva would be going to China with the idea of sending two clear messages: a warning - no compromise on health and safety (European imperatives) and a partnership message - guaranteeing Chinese product safety by way of common high level standards, which is in the interest of China and the EU alike. The spokesperson affirmed that they had an embryonic framework for cooperation, to develop into a genuine partnership, by concentrating on implementation. She also asserted that they would be requesting quarterly reports. (an)