NEWS

Care: 2011 Annual Report on the operation of the RAPEX (Rapid Alert System for non-food dangerous products)

RAPEX is the Rapid Alert System for non-food dangerous products, mainly used in the EU Member States and the European Commission that facilitates the rapid exchange of information between Member States and the Commission on measures taken to prevent or restrict the marketing or use of products posing a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers. Notifications generally includes notifying country, country of origin, product category, name, brand, type/number of model, description, danger, measures adopted by notifying country and provides visualization of the sample photos to consumers, so as to improve warning degree.

The non-food dangerous products supervised by RAPEX mainly divided into two categories: commonly used consumer products such as toys, cosmetics, textiles and clothing which are for general consumer use, as well as products used by professionals such as machinery, machinery, building products and others.

Overview of EU Notifications in 2011:
In 2011, 27 EU Member States, plus Iceland and Norway, sent notifications through the RAPEX system. Only one participating country (Liechtenstein) did not submit any notifications. Total 1,803 notifications on consumer products posing risks to health and safety were distributed, of which 54% of the products are originated in China (including Hong Kong), have which been declined compared to 58 percent in the previous year. The following five most frequently notifying countries accounted for 47% of all notifications:

• Spain (189 notifications, 12%)
• Bulgaria (162 notifications, 10%)
• Hungary (155 notifications, 10%)
• Germany (130 notifications, 8%)
• United Kingdom (105 notifications, 7%)

The product categories most frequently notified through the RAPEX system in 2011 were:
• Clothing, textiles and fashion items (423 notifications, 27%)
• Toys (324 notifications, 21%)
• Motor vehicles (171 notifications, 11%)
• Electrical appliances and equipment (153 notifications, 8%)
• Cosmetics (104 notifications, 7%)

The below five most frequently notified risk categories which account for 84% of all notified risks:
• Injuries (481 notifications, 26%)
• Chemical (347 notifications, 19%)
• Strangulation (275 notifications, 15%)
• Choking (224 notifications, 12%)
• Electric shock (216 notifications, 12%).

Notified Products was Made in China:
Among the Chinese products notified in RAPEX 2011, toys products take the first place, with total 307 notifications, accounting for 36.29% of all Chinese communications products. Chemical is the main risk type in these products, mainly because the toys contain excessive amount of Phthalates esters such as DEHP and DBP. Choking is the secondary type of hazard, mainly because of the small parts detached from the toys which can be easily swallowed by children.

Clothing and textiles take the second place, with total 199 notifications, accounting for 23.52% of all Chinese communications products. Strangulation is the main risk type in these products which caused by the children's clothing hood or rope near the neck.

Electrical appliances and equipment take the third place, with total 171 notifications, accounting for 20.21% of all Chinese communications products. These products were notified mainly because of electric shock dangerous, fire, burns and other risks.

Recently, EU and China Regulatory agencies are improving the mutual cooperation of each other, especially in strengthening the traceability of the product and supply chain management. Good bilateral communication will help to safeguard the interests of Chinese enterprises, and also ensure that the EU consumers are away from the dangerous products..

Please click the below for detail information of 2011 Annual RAPEX Report:
http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/safety/rapex/docs/2011_rapex_report_en.pdf