THE EUROPEAN GENERAL PRODUCT SAFETY NETWORK

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THE EUROPEAN GENERAL PRODUCT SAFETY NETWORK

• Erik HanssonDG Health and Consumer
  ProtectionEuropean Commission

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BACKGROUND

• DIRECTIVE 2001/95/EC ON GENERAL PRODUCT SAFETY
• Article 10
• 1. The Commission shall promote and take part in
  the operation in a European network of the
  authorities of the Member States competent for
  product safety, in particular in the form of
  administrative cooperation.

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OBJECTIVES

• DIRECTIVE 2001/95/EC ON GENERAL PRODUCT SAFETY
• Article 10
• 2. This network operation shall develop in a
  coordinated manner with the other existing
  Community procedures, particularly RAPEX. Its
  objective shall be, in particular, to
  facilitate(a) the exchange of information on
  risk assessment, dangerous products, test methods
  and results, recent scientific developments as
  well as other aspects relevant for control
  activities (b) the establishment and execution
  of joint surveillance and testing projects (c)
  the exchange of expertise and best practices and
  cooperation in training activities (d) improved
  cooperation at Community level with regard to the
  tracing, withdrawal and recall of dangerous
  products.

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SCOPE

• Applies in principle for all consumer products -
  unless similar provisions in sectoral legislation
  (GPSD art 1 p. 2 see borderline document on
  SANCO web)
• Network mechanisms (ADCO etc) in most cases exist
  for sectors
• Specific GPSD network established
• Co-ordination and co-operation with sectors

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STRUCTURE
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Financial contributions to joint surveillance
and enforcement actions in the area of consumer
product safety (1)

• Objective
• Improve administrative and enforcement
  co-operation on Community consumer protection
  legislation, including GPSD.
• Beneficiaries
• Public or non-profit-making bodies to which MS
  have attributed responsibilities and tasks in the
  area of market surveillance and enforcement of
  GPSD.
• Must be designated by the MS or the competent
  authority concerned and agreed by the Commission.
  
• Includes EFTA/EEA.

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Financial contributions to joint surveillance
and enforcement actions in the area of consumer
product safety (2)

• Activities
• Joint surveillance and enforcement actions in the
  area of consumer product safety.
• Involving five or more MS.
• In particular risk assessment, product testing,
  market monitoring, collection and exchange of
  information on product risks and dangerous
  products.
• Costs
• Up to 50 of eligible costs.
• 70 in certain cases.

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ACTIVITIES

• 2003
• Agreement on priorities
• Preparations
• Planning

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ACTIVITIES

• 2004 (1)
• Joint surveillance projects
• Baby beds
• Co-ordinator Denmark
• Participation 8 MS
• Candles/Candle holders
• Co-ordination United Kingdom
• Participation 10 MS 2 EFTA
• Children high chairs
• Co-ordination France
• Participation 7 MS
• Safety barriers for children
• Co-ordination Germany
• Participation 3 MS
• Active participation from 21 MS 2 EFTA/EEA
  countries

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ACTIVITIES

• 2004 (2)
• Feasibility study on the interconnection of
  market surveillance databases launched
• Launch of joint actions with Community funding
• ICSMS 2 presented by Germany
• Five participating MS
• EU financial contribution 111.539 (70)
• SUSY SAFE presented by Italy
• Five participating MS
• EU financial contribution 77.127,88 (50).

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ACTIVITIES

• 2004 (3)
• Comparative inventory
• Objective to promote consistent risk assessment
  by authorities
• How?
• Comparative inventory and evaluation of
  approaches, methods and practices
• Identify best practices
• Recommendations

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ACTIVITIES

• 2005
• Joint surveillance projects
• Call for joint actions with Community co-funding
• IT-structures for co-operation
• Guidelines and procedures for recalls
• Training programme for inspectors
• Inventory of testing capacity in MS
• Development of testing co-operation
• Information visits in MS

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EXPERIENCES

• Joint surveillance projects useful
• EU financial contribution to joint actions
• Resources and support on national level
• Informal dimension
• Staged approach