RAPEX - Rapid Alert System for non-food consumer products

26 August 2009
by inadim -- last modified 28 August 2009

RAPEX is the EU rapid alert system for dangerous consumer products – with the exception of food, pharmaceutical and medical devices, which are covered by other mechanisms. It facilitates the rapid exchange of information between Member States and the European Commission on measures taken to prevent or restrict the marketing or use of products posing a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers. Both measures ordered by national authorities and measures taken voluntarily by producers and distributors are reported by RAPEX.

How does RAPEX work?

• When a product (e.g. a toy, a childcare article or a household appliance) is found to be dangerous, the competent national authority takes appropriate action to eliminate the risk. It can withdraw the product from the market, recall it from consumers or issue warnings. The National Contact Point then informs the European Commission (Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection) about the product, the risks it poses to consumers and the measures taken by the authority to prevent risks and accidents.
• The European Commission disseminates the information that it receives to the National Contact Points of all other EU countries. It publishes weekly overviews of dangerous products and the measures taken to eliminate the risks on the internet.
• The National Contact Points in each EU country ensure that the authorities responsible check whether the newly notified dangerous product is present on the market. If so, the authorities take measures to eliminate the risk, either by requiring that the product be withdrawn from the market, by recalling it from consumers or by issuing warnings.

The "RAPEX-CHINA" system

One of the concrete actions under the Memorandum of Understanding singed in 2004 between DG SANCO and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China (AQSIQ) is the "RAPEX-CHINA" system. The "RAPEX-CHINA" on-line system exists for regular and rapid transmission of data between the EU and China product safety administration. DG SANCO provides the Chinese authorities with the information on consumer products originating from China, which have been identified as dangerous and consequently banned or withdrawn from the European market by the authorities of the Member States and notified by these to the European Commission via the European Rapid Alert System – "RAPEX".

AQSIQ investigates all the notifications it receives via accessing the database and, when necessary, adopts measures which prevent or restrict further export of the notified dangerous consumer products to the EU.

AQSIQ provides the Commission with a detailed report on the results of the investigations carried out on the base of the RAPEX data and measures adopted with regard to dangerous products. These reports are expected quarterly.

Source: European Commission