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2010-04-26

China tops EU list of dangerous products

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Chinese goods topped the list of dangerous consumer products notified through the EU's rapid alert system (Rapex) in 2009, according to a European Commission report published on Thursday.

The Asian giant accounted for 60 percent of the
notification cases, with toys, clothing, textiles and motor vehicles turning out to be the chief culprits.

Harm from dangerous chemicals, general injuries, choking
, electric shocks and strangulation were among the main reasons cited by complainants.

The annual report stressed the high placing of Chinese goods
was partially due to "the significant market penetration of Chinese-manufactured consumer products in European markets."

However John Dalli, the EU's consumer policy commissioner, said he would visit China in June to reinforce the idea that "dangerous products must be blocked at source."

"We can't order the closure of factories in China.
We are going to continue to explain that we want them to intensify their vigilance," he said, adding that China had made considerable progress.

A category labelled "unknown" came in second place after the Chinese goods, followed by Germany and Italy with considerably less.

The European consumers' association Beuc said the report was proof that considerable improvements still needed to be made. http://www.beuc.org/Content/Default.asp

"We must aim for a situation where dangerous
products are virtually non-existent in the market-place. This will only be done when national authorities are given more resources for market surveillance," said the group's director general, Monique Goyens.

Businesses welcome easing of restrictions
Meanwhile, European businesses have welcomed alterations to an "indigenous innovation" policy in China, designed to encourage homegrown technological development.

The country's Ministry of Science and Technology
signaled the partial retreat in the government procurement procedures earlier this week.

Under draft 2010 rules, companies must show that the
relevant patents and trademarks are registered in China, a moderation on last year's rules that indicated companies had to prove the relevant patent was developed solely in China or that the trademark was first lodged in China.

EU companies had complained that the old rules
smacked of protectionism, with the European Union Chamber of Commerce welcoming the changes.

"This is an important sign that policymakers in
China recognise the role that fair competition plays in developing and enhancing China's high-tech capabilities, and that foreign-invested companies can make a valuable contribution," it said in a statement.


                                                                         
       Cecilia Helland


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