How prepared is the Maltese Market for Market Surveillance? Shirley Mifsud Market Surveillance Scientist 4 th December 2009

Why Market Surveillance? A uniformly high level of enforcement of internal market legislation High level of protection Non-discrimination (Level playing field) Transparent competition

Market Surveillance in Malta Market Surveillance started forming part of the Malta Standards Authority on February 2008 Responsible for the safety of product for the consumer which can be divided in 5 main categories: Children (e.g. safety of toys, playground equipment and other items used by children) Domestic and occupational (e.g. fire safety of electrical appliances, safety of DIY tools and communication equipment and safe use of domestic chemicals, safety of lifts) Recreation (e.g. safety of engines used on recreational craft, media equipment and equipment used in amusement parks) Personal care (e.g. safety of cosmetics and tatoo dyes) Industry (e.g. safety of machinery, pesticides and fireworks)

Market Surveillance and.. Economic Operators (including Importers, Manufacturers, Agents and Retailers) Customers How well prepared are they with respect to Market Surveillance???

Interaction of the Market Surveillance Directorate, Importers/Manufacturers and Consumers Market Surveillance Directorate Economic OperatorsConsumer -Responsible for supervision of compliance -Communicate information on surveillance initiative -Decide on measures -Expect safe products on the market -Wide network -Provide authorities with information Information -Object for supervision -Act based on information on market surveillance -Expect fair competition

How prepared are Economic Operators to Market Surveillance?  Do economic operators know that the Market Surveillance Directorate is within the Malta Standards Authority?  Are they aware that Market Surveillance officers conduct inspections in outlets?  Are they aware that market surveillance officers can take samples from outlets and do recalls of products which pose a serious risk?  Do economic operators know that legal action can be taken against them if they place unsafe products on the market?

Do economic operators know that the Market Surveillance Directorate is within the Malta Standards Authority?

Are they aware that Market Surveillance officers conduct inspections in outlets?

Are they aware that market surveillance officers can take samples from outlets and do recalls of products which pose a serious risk?

Do economic operators know that legal action can be taken against them if they place unsafe products on the market?

How prepared are Consumers to Market Surveillance? Consumers have a right for safe products on the market ……. BUT do they know how to recognize a safe product???? AND how aware are they of the existence of the Market Surveillance Directorate????

General questions made to consumers Do you know the meaning of CE marking? Do you know that toys must be CE marked? Do you know that instruction manuals need to be at least either in Maltese or English? Do you know the meaning of Energy Labeling on lamps and appliances? Do you know that a three pin plug or an adaptor needs to be supplied with appliances having a two pin plug? Do you know that lifts need to be CE marked?

Do you know the meaning of CE marking? Do you know that toys must be CE marked? Results

Results cont… Do you know that instruction manuals need to be at least either in Maltese or English? Do you know the meaning of Energy Labeling on lamps and appliances?

Results cont… Do you know that a three pin plug or an adaptor needs to be supplied with appliances having a two pin plug? Do you know that lifts need to be CE marked?

Market Surveillance Directorate activities with respect to Economic Operators and Consumers Main activities include: Reaction to economic operators and customer complaints Random inspections in outlets Testing of items suspected that can pose a health risk Instigating new RAPEX alert notifications Follow up RAPEX notifications Report reactions to RAPEX notifications Hold meetings and other communication forms with third parties

Complaints followed up by MSD-MSA from January - September 2009

Items & Outlets inspected by MSD-MSA from January - September 2009

Outlet categories inspected by MSD-MSA from January - September 2009

Product categories inspected by MSD-MSA from January - September 2009

New RAPEX Alert Notifications done by MSD-MSA from January - September 2009

RAPEX Notifications followed by MSD- MSA from January - September 2009

RAPEX Reaction to Notifications done by MSD-MSA from January - September 2009

Meetings/Communications done by MSD- MSA from January - September 2009

Ways forward to reach Economic Operators and Consumers More frequent meetings with economic operators Press releases on government gazette and commercial gazettes Publishing of informational leaflets with the functions of the Market Surveillance Directorate Meetings with consumers Meetings with children in schools Frequent updates on the Malta Standards Authority Site

Thank you for your attention