Press Release
25/09/2007Toy and Product Safety: EPP-ED MEPs call for measures to prevent misuse of CE label, better enforcement of product laws and closer cooperation with trading partners. Marianne Thyssen MEP, Malcolm Harbour MEP, Corien Wortmann-Kool MEP and Andreas Schwab MEP
MEPs questioned the Enterprise and Industry Commissioner and the Consumer Commissioner today on what measures the European Commission has planned to ensure that products imported from third countries fulfil the same high safety and health standards as products manufactured within the EU. In addition, a Resolution has been tabled calling for a tougher EU stance on product safety, which will be voted on Wednesday.
According to Marianne Thyssen MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP-ED Group, the recent large-scale recalls involving unsafe toys from China, show that producers and policy-makers cannot let their guard down. Marianne Thyssen said: "The EU has one of the best consumer legislations worldwide, yet the recent incidents show that we can never allow ourselves to become compliant. We need to maximise our efforts within the scope of existing legislation. The Commission needs to put in place adequate sanctions for the misuse of the CE marking and Member States need to do more inspections and cooperate more closely to ensure that a maximum amount of unsafe goods are detected."
Malcolm Harbour MEP, Conservative Internal Market Spokesman in the European Parliament, said: "I welcome the Commissioner's determined actions and call upon all EU countries to give maximum support. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Unsafe toys must be stopped wherever they enter the single market. It is irresponsible makers and importers whose products have not been properly tested that present the biggest problem in terms of toy safety."
Andreas Schwab MEP, EPP-ED Vice-Coordinator in the Internal Market Committee, emphasised the importance of active Member State cooperation: "As a first step, the market surveillance system has to be strengthened. Additionally, we ask the Commission to assess the added value of creating a voluntary European safety mark for all consumer products. This label would, when adopted, be complimentary to the CE marking and replace all national safety labels. As far as toys are concerned, the Commission has to assess - in the framework of the revision of the Toys Directive - whether an obligatory third party certification is suitable."
Corien Wortmann-Kool MEP, EPP-ED Spokeswoman for International Affairs, called on the Commission to put product safety higher on the agenda of trade negotiations: "To make sure countries such as China implement our health and safety standards to the letter when they manufacture toys or other goods destined for the European market, we can also give them technical assistance and improve inspection and customs operations."
For further information:
Malcolm Harbour MEP, Tel: +33-3-88- 179132
Marianne Thyssen MEP, Tel: +33-3-88-175918
Corien Wortmann-Kool MEP, Tel: +33-3-88-175570
Andreas Schwab MEP, Tel: +33-3-88-175938
Greet Gysen, EPP-ED Press Service, Tel: +32-497-028054
Notes to Editors:
The EPP-ED Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 278 Members from all 27 Member States.
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