Chinese products made up over half of recalls , says EU

CHILDREN’S TOYS and Chinese-made products sparked the majority of non-food product recalls in the EU last year.

The number of dangerous consumer good which posed a serious health and safety risk to EU consumers rose by more than 16 per cent last year, the European Commission will reveal in a report on its alert system for non-food products (Rapex) to be published today.

There were more recalls than ever of Chinese-made goods which accounted for more than 900 of some 1,800 alerts by EU countries.

Toys made up more than a third of the dangerous products which were recalled with clothing, motors, electrical appliances and fashion items each making up some 10 per cent of alerts.

The main threat posed by products was consumer injuries followed by choking, chemicals, electric shock and fire.

Ireland was directly involved in alerting the EU body of 23 dangerous consumer products.

Four of these recalls were high lead levels in Chinese-made children’s make-up (girl’s cosmetic sets and face paints).

Irish authorities also alerted the EU to six choking hazards in children’s clothes and toys. Dangers have continued to be posed by the high levels of lead in children’s make-up in Ireland with seven such recalls so far this year.

There was just one Irish-made product recalled under this system in 2008.

The Colgate herbal toothpaste was considered a possible health risk because it contained high levels of bacteria.

Spanish authorities complained about the product, which although not counterfeit, was not distributed by Colgate Palmolive in Spain.

Ireland’s reaction rate to alerts by the EU body was above the EU average at 85. The majority of these involved consumer recalls.

However, some alerts in the motor industry (such as an airbag fault in a Jaguar XK Coupe ) were fixed by the retailer or manufacturer.

Motoring-related complaints generated the most action on alerts, making up more than two-thirds of responses by EU countries.

Reaction to children’s toys, clothes and equipment made up the next biggest response by at almost a fifth of some 1,500 member-state reactions.

Consumer affairs commissioner Meglena Kuneva said the report “shows that Europe’s consumers are better protected than ever before from dangerous products, with both business and national authorities taking their responsibilities more seriously”.

Due to the increase in recalls of Chinese-made products, the commission last year strengthened a co-operation agreement with China.

In more than half of cases, Chinese manufacturers or exporters took preventative or restrictive measures when a product was recalled. In most other cases, there was a lack of information on the offending Chinese company.

The level of problematic Chinese goods reflects the “significant market penetration” of Chinese products in European markets, the commission report says, adding that the increase indicates a focus by EU authorities on these products rather than their falling quality.

One fifth of the dangerous products came from within the EU, with Germany accounting for the highest recall rate (82 products).