1. Consumer expectations on market surveillance
EMARS Strategy Workshop
Chiara Giovannini
ANEC Programme Manager
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2. Contents What do consumers want Conclusions ANEC in a nutshell
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3. History
Established in 1995 by national consumer organisations and public authorities in EU Member States and EFTA countries
Supported (co-funded) by the European Commission and EFTA
Consumer Organisations contribute ‘in kind’
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4. Influence legislation related to standardisation
Mission
Represent and defend consumer interest in standardisation, certification and related legislation
Influence legislation related to standardisation
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5. quality, accessibility and environmental aspects of
Scope
Safety, performance,
quality, accessibility and environmental aspects of
products and services
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6. ANEC Priorities Child Safety Design for All Domestic Appliances
Environment
Information Society
Services
Traffic Safety
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7. Cooperating Partner of Full member of Member of
Associate Member of
Cooperating Partner of
Full member of
Member of
Observer to ISO-COPOLCO
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8. All products on the market are
Consumers expect that...
All products on the market are
safe!
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9. Consumers expect that...
Manufacturers are responsible for the safety of their products
Standardisation sets the criteria for safety
Government is responsible for market
surveillance
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10. Consumers do not expect that...
The product poses a risk of injuries and cuts because the metal shaft of the saddle sticks out from the lower side of the frame and has no protective cover (RAPEX not /08)
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11. Conformity assessment Market surveillance
Product safety
Conformity
assessment
Market
surveillance
Standards
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12. Consumers role
Participation in standardisation is key but system needs to be open
Product testing can show deficiencies in market surveillance but it is costly
Consumers need objective information to make informed choices
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13. Conclusions
Resources must be committed by Member States, who are responsible for it under subsidiarity, if market surveillance is to be effective
There must be an effective system of peer assessment of the national surveillance authorities
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14. Conclusions
More efforts to reinforce administrative co-operation and information exchange amongst Member States and with the European Commission are needed
EMARS project contribution is essential to this regard
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15. Conclusions
Lack in enforcement of standards and safety law allow unsafe products to circulate in the Internal market and thus undermine the consumer confidence
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16. Thank you for your attention!
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