USERS' SAFETY
All the products distributed in the market fall within the scope of a directive.
Directive on General Product Safety
The Directive applies to all products to be used by consumers unless there is another Directive being applied to that type of product.
Directive 2001/95/EC governs the general safety of all products placed on the European market.
As required by this Directive only “safe” products can be placed on the European market. Importers/manufacturers are required to inform consumers above related hazards caused by the supplied product.
A "safe product" shall mean any product which, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use including duration and, where applicable, putting into service, installation and maintenance requirements, does not present any risk or only the minimum risks compatible with the product's use, considered to be acceptable and consistent with a high level of protection for the safety and health of persons.
A product is considered safe if it complies with the National or EU regulatory rules in force.
- applying the national standards transposing European standards, or in their absence, the standards published by the member state where the product is distributed.
- applying codes of good practice in force in the industry sector concerned, or state of the art and technology,
- providing appropriate information to end users (labelling, instructions of use, warnings…)
- evaluating reasonable and foreseeable risks related to the end user (e.g. children)
- provide consumers with all the necessary information that enables them to assess inherent product risks
- adopt product marking measures for easy identification
- ensure the follow-up of complaints lodged in order to inform distributors
- perform product recalls from consumers
- warn consumers of the risks posed by the products
- cooperate with manufacturers and the authorities concerned in preventing those risks
- provide all necessary information and documents to trace the origin of products