Fourteen products were withdrawn from the Maltese market last year after the Malta Standards Authority deemed them unsafe.

The products, that were notified to the European Commission under the Rapex system, consisted of six electrical appliances, two types of lighters, three chemical products, two toys and one food-imitating product.

In a breakdown of its work throughout 2009, the authority said it carried out 518 inspections in shops and 2,227 different products were inspected for compliance with EU directives and standards. Products inspected included pesticides, detergents, lifts, cosmetics, toys, electrical equipment and household appliances.

Two samples of locally-grown food were found to exceed permissible levels of pesticide residue. In one case, action was taken against a farmer and in the other instance the product was banned from being placed on the market.

A pesticides importer faced legal action after he was found to be harbouring an illegal consignment of pesticides.