EU Proposes New Consumer Product Safety Rules

The European Commission has proposed new regulations to improve the safety of consumer products in the single market and increase market surveillance on all non-food products.

Currently, European Union rules for market surveillance and consumer product safety are fragmented, creating gaps and overlaps.

Once adopted by the European Parliament and by the European Council, the new rules will be enforced by the national market surveillance authorities in the member states of the EU.

The proposals are complemented by a market surveillance plan that outlines 20 concrete actions to be undertaken from now to 2015 to improve surveillance under the current regulatory framework until the new rules come into effect.

Key changes in the proposed rules include alignment of obligations of economic operators, with clearer responsibilities for manufacturers, importers and distributors; more effective tools to enforce safety and other product-related requirements; improved traceability of consumer products throughout the supply chain; creation of a more cooperative system of surveillance across the EU; and streamlined procedures for the notification of dangerous products.