1. S tefano S oro European Commission Health and Consumer Protection DG OBLIGATION OF PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTORS TO NOTIFY DANGEROUS PRODUCTS

2. Objectives :  Important element of the market surveillance  Enable the competent authorities of the Member States to: - provide assistance - monitor measures adopted by economic operators - assess whether other similar product should be subject to controls  RAPEX system

3. Legal base :  General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC - Article 5 (3) - Annex I  Guidelines for the notification of dangerous products to the national authorities of the Member States by producers and distributors.

4.  Consumer product  No specific similar obligation in the Community legislation  Product is on the market  Economic operator has an evidence that the product is dangerous  Risks are such that the product cannot remain on the market and preventive actions should be taken Notification criteria :

5. Important aspects - WHO ? : Obligation applies to producers and distributors : - the manufacturer of the product when he is established in the EU, - the manufacturer’s representative if the manufacturer is not established in the EU, - importer if there is no manufacturer’s representative established in the EU, - other professionals in the supply chain…

6. Important aspects - WHAT? : Data transmitted – details of: - authorities and companies receiving the form - producer/distributor submitting the form - product involved - risks posed by the product - actions taken to eliminate the risks - other companies in the supply chain holding affected products

7. Important aspects – HOW? : Cooperation between economic operators and the national authorities of the Member States based on TRUST.

8. Business Application :  Objective: - To simplify the practical application of the economic operators’ obligation to notify dangerous product  Cooperation with stakeholders: - Consultations with business and the national authorities of the Member States

9. Business Application: The state of play:  In production February 2007  Information on the Commission’s website!

10. !CHECK OUR WEBSITE!

11. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION. Stefano Soro Head of Unit Product and Service Safety Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General European Commission Office B232 06/116, 1049 Brussels, Belgium stefano.soro@ec.europa.eu + 32.2.296.75.43 +32.2.299.18.58