Product safety

Over the past two weeks we have been informed about what to expect on the labels of non-food products. This week we look into the safety of the products on shop shelves.

I sometimes worry whether the products I buy are safe. How would I know whether a toy or any other product I buy could be dangerous?

It is the responsibility of manufacturers and distributors to sell safe products. But if a faulty or dangerous product is discovered, measures will be taken very quickly. The authorities across the EU are responsible for making sure that products meet safety requirements. If they do not meet these requirements, authorities can withdraw them from the market, request a recall from shops and issue warnings.

If a dangerous product is found in one EU country, information on the product is passed on to the other EU countries through a rapid alert system called 'RAPEX'. This system ensures co-operation between national and European authorities to track down dangerous products and remove them quickly from the market .

EU rules on product safety are especially strict for toys, cosmetics and electrical equipment.

What does the CE label on toys mean?
The CE sign is a statement made by the manufacturer or distributor that the product meets the various EU health and safety requirements. It does not automatically guarantee higher quality or safety. So always be careful even if there is a CE label.

Keep in mind that labels on toys should include warnings and indications of precautions to take during use. If, for example, the toy might be dangerous for children under 36 months, a warning such as 'Not suitable for children under 36 months' should be shown. This should appear in English and/or Maltese.

For further information contact the European Consumer Centre of Malta and the Consumers Association at 47a South Street, Valletta, tel: 2122 1901, e-mail ecc.malta@gov.mt or info@camalta.org, or visit www.camalta.org.

You can also phone the Consumer and Competition Division on freephone 8007 4400 or the Department of Public Health, 37/39 Rue d'Argens, Msida, tel: 2133 7333/e-mail: complaintsph@ gov.mt.

Across the EU, consumers have rights. Insist on yours.

This article is intended for information purposes only. Any legal claim or action taken in the event of a dispute should be based solely on the legal texts concerned.