[Index]
TOWARDS RISK-FREE PRODUCTS:
BALANCING CONSUMER SAFETY WITH TRADE OPPORTUNITIES
Geneva, 23 August 2002
International Forum on Market Surveillance
Examining the effectiveness of Europe's national monitoring systems
of product safety
Tuesday, 29 October 2002
Palais des Nations, Geneva
As consumers we need to have confidence that the products we buy are safe
and reliable, and meet our national quality and safety standards. However,
the reality is somewhat different. Many of us will at some time have seen
official notices in newspapers or in local supermarkets recalling defective
or unsafe products. Although most countries in Europe have well-established
monitoring systems, ANEC, the European Association for the Co-ordination of
Consumer Representation in Standardization1, says that surveys
it carried out in recent years exposed a number of deficiencies in these systems.
International Forum on Market Surveillance
To examine and compare different market surveillance mechanisms in operation
in Europe, the Geneva-based UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is holding
a one-day International Forum on Market Surveillance on 29 October 2002. One
of the main purposes of the Forum is to help countries with insufficiently
well-developed market surveillance mechanisms to select a model that would
best suit them. The Forum will also deal with the question of the increasing
globalization of trade and markets, and look at how Governments can ensure
the safety and quality of goods and services supplied by local and foreign
companies without creating technical obstacles to trade.
What is market surveillance?
Market surveillance is a control, aiming at checking that the products placed
on the market comply with the safety rules and the procedures laid down by
any entity in charge, at a national, regional or international level. These
products must not affect the health and the safety of the end users, whether
these are workers or consumers. Although some experts, specific surveillance
bodies and laboratories may be needed in the process, the overall responsibility
for market surveillance lies with the public authorities.
Safety of toys and electrical appliances
According to one ANEC survey of European countries, in one country, for instance,
half of the 60 samples of children's rattles checked failed to pass the national
toy-safety requirements. And out of 18 household appliances inspected in another
country, one third did not meet essential safety requirements under the EU
Low Voltage Directive.
Food safety
European consumers are increasingly worried about the quality of foodstuffs
they are being sold. In recent years the focus of concern has been primarily
on meat and meat products. A Eurobarometer2 survey, conducted in 1997, found
that over 66% of European citizens were concerned about the safety of foodstuffs
and were worried about the consequences of intensive production methods.
Cosmetics
The EU directive on cosmetics3 prohibits among other things the use of mercuric
iodide for soaps and other cosmetic products. Soaps containing mercuric iodide
are used for bleaching black or very dark skin. If used over a longer period
of time the soap may lead to skin injuries and the mercuric iodide may, if
allowed to accumulate in the body, damage brain and kidneys. Although officially
prohibited, these soaps continue to be found in certain small stores. It is
also well known that some cosmetics contain allergenic substances. If they
do, these substances should be indicated on the labelling. Frequently they
are not.
Programme outline for the Forum
The Forum is being organized under the auspices of the UNECE Working Party
on Technical Harmonization and Standardization Policies4. It should
interest policy makers and representatives of market surveillance bodies,
private companies and associations, consumer organizations, customs, and other
agencies involved in the multi-faceted process of market surveillance.
The Forum will first present the specific features of market surveillance;
it will then focus on a more sectoral approach, under the form of study groups
on electrical household appliances, machinery (for both private and professional
use) and cosmetics. Consumer organizations and manufacturers will also be
able to express their specific concerns during a special session dedicated
to them.
Other questions the Forum will address include: What should be done if a
product on the market is found to be unsafe? What should be done if a product
that was banned after having been found to be unsafe reappears on the market
under another brand or name?
The issues discussed will reflect the pan-European membership of the UN Economic
Commission for Europe; for instance, the quality issue, which is more specific
to eastern Europe, whereas the enforcement issue is of particular concern
to European Union countries. Special attention will be given to the problems
being encountered by countries with economies in transition.
For more information on this event, please contact the Secretary to the Working
Party on Technical Harmonization and Standardization Policies:
Mr. Serguei Kouzmine
Trade Division
UN Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations, Office 433-1
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: +41(0) 22 917 27 71 or 917 36 67
Fax: +41(0) 22 917 04 79 / 917 00 37
E-mail: [email protected]
The Forum registration form can be downloaded from:
http://www.unece.org/trade/tips/wp6-regis.doc
***********
Endnotes
1. ANEC is the Brussels-based European Association for the Co-ordination
of Consumer Representation in Standardization. Information on the Association's
activities can be found on their web site at http://www.anec.org
2. Since 1973, the European Commission has been monitoring the evolution
of public opinion in its member States, thus helping the preparation of texts,
decision-making and the evaluation of its work. Their surveys and studies
address major topics concerning European citizenship: enlargement, social
situation, health, culture, information technology, environment, the Euro,
defence, etc. The standard Eurobarometer was established in 1973. Each survey
consists in approximately 1,000 face-to-face interviews per member State (except
Germany: 2,000, Luxembourg: 600, United Kingdom 1,300, including 300 in Northern
Ireland). Conducted between two and five times per year, with reports published
twice yearly. More information can be found on their web site http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/
3. Details of the rules governing cosmetic products in the European Union
can be found on the following web site: http://www.leffingwell.com/cosmetics/vol_1en.pdf
4. The UNECE Working Party on Technical Harmonization and Standardization
Policies consists of between 50 and 70 specialists from all over the world.
The group's major concern is to encourage all 55 UNECE member countries to
develop, adopt and apply harmonized technical regulations and standards, as
well as conformity assessment procedures. For details of their programme of
activities, see web site: http://www.unece.org/trade/stdpol
Ref: ECE/TRADE/02/07