The European Commission has adopted guidelines (attached to this article) for improving the functioning of the EU’s Rapid Information System on dangerous consumer products (RAPEX).
The RAPEX system was recently strengthened by the coming into force on 15 January of the new revised General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC) which introduced new obligations for businesses to alert the authorities to dangerous products.
The RAPEX guidelines clarify Member State authorities’ obligations to notify dangerous products to the Commission and to take action when they receive a dangerous product alert via RAPEX.
The guidelines also provide practical guidance on how to make a notification and set deadlines for the various stages in the notification and follow up procedures.
