SGS Helps Keep European Consumers Safe from Non-Food Related Dangerous Products

Hamburg, Germany, August 05, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The European Commission annually publishes the statistics of RAPEX notifications.

Since 2004, the number of notifications has constantly risen: in 2005 by 81%, in 2006 by 24%, in 2007 by 53%, in 2008 by 16% and in 2009 by 7%. In 2010, 2244 products were reported through Rapex, which is a rise in the number of notifications by 13% compared with 2009. 1,963 of these notifications concerned products presenting a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers.

47% of these notifications came from Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Cyprus and Greece, with Germany comprising 204 notifications (10%), Bulgaria 192 notifications (10%), Hungary 191 notifications, again making it to 10% of the 47% of notifications. Cyprus comprised 178 notifications, with 9% of the 47% and Greece had 159 notifications, making up 8%.

80% of products notified to RAPEX concern the product categories of clothing, textiles and fashion items (625 notifications, coming in at 32%), and toys (488 notifications, coming in at 25%). Motor vehicles (175 notifications, comprising 9%), electrical appliances (158 notifications at 8%) and childcare articles and equipment (comprising 72 notifications at 4%).

Of the hazards encountered in these products, the danger of strangulation brought in a whopping 356 notifications, comprising 16% of the total. Choking came in a close second with 330 notifications at 14% and electric shock danger comprised 197 notifications, making 9% of the total.

In a drive to ensure increased circulation and awareness of this information and to promote product safety, the SGS “Product Recalls” (http://www.sgs.com/product-recalls-publication.htm?lobId=5547) publication summarizes the notifications of unsafe consumer products in the EU, US and Australian markets. “Product Recalls” is included twice per month in the Safeguards email alerts (http://www.sgs.com/consumer_testing_safeguards_v2.htm?lobId=5547), which provide you with all regulatory updates for consumer goods.

SGS Consumer Testing Services offers a complete range of services including testing, product inspection, process assessment and technical assistance, working across markets all over the globe. Standards and Regulations Services (SRS) (http://www.hardlines.sgs.com/consumerproducts/standards_regulations_consumerproducts.htm) investigate product requirements in each individual country. SGS’ global network of experts tracks local and international regulatory developments in order to provide you with the right information at the right time and so as to provide a single, consolidated source that will help you reduce risk, improve efficiency and assist you in surmounting with technical barriers.

For more information on product safety, testing, standards and regulations on EU markets, please contact:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Silke Hilmer
Global Marketing Coordinator
Rosenstraße 6
20095 Hamburg, Germany
t: +49 40 5701974 26
E-mail address: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/cts

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 64,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,250 offices and laboratories around the world.

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