Recall Summary – European Toys in Europe, the US, Australia (Nov 2024)

Safety Gate: the EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products

“Safety Gate”, the EU rapid alert system (formerly known as ‘RAPEX’), enables the rapid exchange of information between 31 European countries and the European Commission on non-food dangerous products found on the market posing a risk to the health and safety of consumers.

A weekly overview of the alerts on those products is published in English for free on https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate-alerts/screen/webReport#weeklyReports. The measures taken in the notifying country in order to restrict such products’ marketing or use can be ordered by national authorities ("compulsory measures") or be taken directly by producers and distributors ("voluntary measures").

The official contact points of the Member and EFTA-EEA States provide the information published in these weekly overviews. Under the terms of Annex II.10 of the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC) responsibility for the information provided lies with the notifying party. The Commission does not take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided.

CPSC

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent agency of the United States government. To provide better service in alerting the American people to unsafe, hazardous or defective products, a “one stop shop” for U.S. Government recalls, http://www.recalls.gov, has been created. Members of the public may report unsafe products to CPSC by using the platform.

The recall list is divided into seven categories: Consumer Products, Motor Vehicles, Boats, Food, Medicine, Cosmetics and Environmental Products. Generally, the recall is conducted voluntarily by the company under CPSC’s Fast Track Recall program. Fast Track recalls are initiated by firms who are committed to working with CPSC to quickly announce the recall and remedy to protect consumers.

Australian Product Safety System

The Australian product safety system is set up to maximize the safety of goods through the cooperation of consumers, businesses and agencies. This policy sets out the principles adopted by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for prioritizing and addressing product safety risks.

Under the Australian Consumer Law, a responsible Minister can order a compulsory recall when there are hazards on the products. A voluntary recall could be conducted to remove the product from the marketplace when the suppliers become aware of unsafe or defective products.

The ACCC administers a national recalls system for recalls of specific and general consumer products, and publishes all product recalls on the website https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls.