11. 5. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 124/9 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Decision amending Decision 84/133/EEC introducing a Community 
System for the rapid exchange of information on dangers arising from the use of consumer 
products 
COM(88) 121 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 18 March 1988) 
(88/C 124/11) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in 
particular Article 235 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee, 
Whereas Article 8 (2) of Council Decision 84/133/EEC (*) provides that the Decision remain 
in force for a period of four years from the date of its notification and that, in the light of 
experience, the Commission present a report with proposals on the basis of which the Council 
may decide upon the continuation or revision of the system; 
Whereas in view of the intention of the Commission to submit to the Council a proposal for a 
directive on consumer safety it is appropriate to extend for six more years the period in which 
the Decision is to remain in force without introducing any other changes for the present, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
In Article 8 (2) of Decision 84/133/EEC 'four years' is replaced by '10 years'. 
Article 2 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
O O] No L 70, 13. 3. 1984, p. 16. 
No C 124/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 11. 5. 88 
ANNEX II 
List of subjects which have been dealt with by the rapid exchange of information since September 1979 
The problems identified below relate to isolated cases only and not to a problem of the food in question. 
1. Cases in 1979 
1.1. Damaged calamares (level of total basic volatile nitrogen too high) 
2. Cases in 1980 
2.1. Frozen skate wings (too high level of total basic volatile nitrogen) 
2.2. Corned beef (blown cans) 
2.3. Quick-frozen prawns (staphylococcus) 
2.4. Quick-frozen frogs' legs (too high level of total basic volatile nitrogen) 
2.5. Powdered blood for blood sausage (escherischia) 
2.6. White calamares (too high level of total basic volatile nitrogen) 
2.7. Frozen sweetbreads (microbial contamination) 
2.8. Canned concentrated tomato puree (too high lead level) 
2.9. Cooked shoulder of pork (badly cooked) 
2.10. White of seiche (too high level of total basic volatile nitrogen) 
2.11. Canned baby food (synthetic hormones) 
2.12. Sweetbreads (adulterated) 
2.13. Quick-frozen prawns (microbial contamination) 
2.14. Babies' dummies (nitrosamines) 
2.15. Aerosols containing artificial snow danger of becoming inflammable 
3. Cases in 1981 
3.1. Canned sliced mushrooms (microbiological contamination) 
3.2. Apples (azinphos-methyl) 
3.3. Canned ham (botulism toxins) 
3.4. White bean curd with chilli (botulism toxins) 
3.5. Spoiled oil in Spain 
3.6. Canned tuna fish from Morocco (too high level of histamine) 
3.7. Frozen cooked lobster (poisoning: cause unknown) 
3.8. Frogs' legs (elostridium and escherischia) 
3.9. Sardines (too high level of histamine) 
3.10. Peanut butter (aflatoxins) 
3.11. Tuna fish September 1979 
26. 1. 1980 
24. 3. 1980 
10. 4. 1980 
10. 4. 1980 
30. 4. 1980 
12. 6. 1980 
20. 6. 1980 
1. 7. 1980 
5. 8. 1980 
26. 8. 1980 
8. 9. 1980 
13. 10. 1980 
7. 11. 1980 
10. 12. 1980 
22. 12. 1980 
6. 1. 1981 
6. 1. 1981 
3. 3. 1981 
15. 6. 1981 
October 1981 
14. 10. 1981 
14. 10. 1981 
24. 11. 1981 
25. 11. 1981 
10. 12. 1981 
14. 12. 1981 
11. 5. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 124/11 
4. Cases in 1982 
4.1. Frozen fillet of sole (unsatisfactory bacteriological criteria) 
4.2. Canned salmon (botulism toxins) 
4.3. Canned salmon (microbial contamination) 
4.4. Chocolate bars (salmonella) 
4.5. Frozen shelled prawns (unsatisfactory bacteriological criteria) 
4.6. Canned tuna fish (too high level of histamine) 
4.7. Quick-frozen green beans (solarium nigrum) 
4.8. Sweet bottles (size of the stopper) 
4.9. Canned peeled tomatoes from Italy (too high level of tin) 
5. Cases in 1983 
5.1. Quick-frozen frogs' legs (salmonella) 
5.2. Concentrates of vegetable soup containing yeast extracts (bacillus cents) 
5.3. Tea (belladonna) 
5.4. Sweets (glutamates) 
5.5. Filled chocolate bars (pentachlore-phenol) 
5.6. Canned smoked shark (quicksilver) 
5.7. Canned mushrooms (botulism toxins) 
5.8. Paste for spreading (botulism toxins) 
5.9. Oil-contaminated cocoa beans 
5.10. Batches of vanilla (formol) 
5.11. Brie cheese (microbial contamination) 
5.12. Munster cheese (microbial contamination) 
6. Cases in 1984 
6.1. Peanuts (aflatoxins) 
6.2. Shrimps (contamination by shigella) 
6.3. Herb tea of bardane (presence of root of belladona) 
6.4. Drinking water (nitrates) 
6.5. Pasta (presence of staphylococcus in certain lasagne) 
6.6. Small fireworks 
6.7. Cereals treated with ethylene dibromide 
6.8. Sneezing powders 
6.9. Ceramic vessels (lead contamination) 
6.10. Pentachlorophenol residues on the wood of fruit crates 
6.11. French pate (salmonella) 
6.12. Melted cheese 
6.13. Canned asparagus (botulism toxins) 
6.14. Kangaroo meat (unfounded) 
6.15. Coloured and flavoured gums (lead and cadmium) 
6.16. Cream pate (contaminated by salmonella isangui) 5. 2. 1982 
7. 2. 1982 
23. 4. 1982 
28. 7. 1982 
10. 8. 1982 
23. 8. 1982 
13. 10. 1982 
14. 12. 1982 
19. 12. 1982 
4. 1. 1983 
27. 1. 1983 
4. 2. 1983 
8. 2. 1983 
21. 2. 1983 
9. 3. 1983 
22. 3. 1983 
11. 4. 1983 
28. 4. 1983 
14. 9. 1983 
13. 10. 1983 
16. 11. 1983 
4. 1. 
16. 1. 
23. 1. 
25. 1. 
7. 2. 
9. 2. 
23. 2. 
28. 2. 
13. 3. 
28. 3. 
27. 6. 
10. 7. 
6. 8. 
17. 9. 
26. 10. 
7. 11. 1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
1984 
No C 124/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 11. 5. 88 
6.17. Pate 23. 11. 1984 
6.18. Chewing gum (aluminium E 173) 20. 12. 1984 
7. Cases in 1985 
7.1. Pasta with eggs and spinach (contaminated by staphylococcus) 
7.2. Mars bars (Sabotage in Japan, France and the United Kingdom) 
7.3. Lasagne (staphylococcus aureus) 
7A. Wines (containing diethylene glycol) 
7.5 Grape juice (contaminated by diethylene glycol) 
7.6. Ice mixes (with monethyl ether of diethylene glycol) (MEG) 
7.7. Quick-frozen rabbit (DDT content) 
7.8. Tomatoes and potatoes (pesticides) 
7.9. Maizena (chlorophenol) 
7.10. Gum sweets (containing diethylene glycol) 
7.11. Canned green beans (foreign toxic substance) 
7.12. Lasagne (contaminated by staphylococcus) 
7.13. DEG in cheese and curd (statistics during period 1980/81/82/83) 
7.14. Sodium azide in certain wines 
7.15. Canned beans containing berries of solarium nigrum 
7.16. Contaminated tinned tomatoes for pizza (abnormal smell reminiscent 
of faecal origin) 
7.17. DEG in champagne 
7.18. Food poisoned by a terrorist organization 
7.19. Powdered milk contaminated by salmonella 
8. Cases in 1986 
8.1. Threats of poisoning of tea 7. 1. 1986 
8.2. Threats of poisoning of food products 9. 1. 1986 
8.3. Malathion in rye 29. 1. 1986 
8.4. Canned tomatoes 28. 2. 1986 
8.5. Contaminated brie (information which appeared in the National Dairy 
News of 28. 2. 1986) 28. 2. 1986 
8.6. Imitation of foodstuffs 5. 3. 1986 
8.7. Veal treated with hormones 13. 3. 1986 
8.8. Wines poisoned by methanol 20. 3. 1986 
8.9. Wines containing diethylene glycol 9. 4. 1986 
8.10. Vermouth containing methanol 28. 4. 1986 
8.11. Ethylcarbamate in spirits 28. 4. 1986 
8.12. Alcoholic drink contaminated by sodium hydroxide 30. 4. 1986 
8.13. Chernobyl accident 30. 4. 1986 
8.14. Cheese contaminated by bacteria 31. 5. 1986 
8.15. Detected penicillin in 689 cases of 'bovine eye rounds' 17. 7. 1986 
8.16. Fresh mussels contaminated by Saxitoxine 4. 12. 1986 8. 5 
8. 7 
8. 7 
12. 7 
5. 8 
7. 8 
28. 8 
29. 8 
3. 9 
23. 9 
1. 10 
16. 10 
31. 10 
6. 11 
7. 11 
19. 11 
9. 12 
23. 12 1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
1985 
11. 5. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 124/13 
9. Cases in 1987 
9.1. Maize reclassification 9. 1. 1987 
9.2. Wines containing Ethylenglycol 23. 1. 1987 
9.3. Green coffee beans containing Aflatoxines 23. 1. 1987 
9.4. Frozen mussels treated by irradiation 11.2. 1987 
9.5. Canned mussels poisoned by Saxitoxine 16. 2. 1987 
9.6. Artificial wines 13. 4. 1987 
9.7. Canned asparagus (See case 6.13 of 6. 8. 1984) 24. 4. 1987 
9.8. Liquid eggs imported into Germany 8. 5. 1987 
9.9. Pesticide residues on strawberries and peppers originating from Spain 4. 6. 1987 
9.10. Biotoxins in shellfish 4. 6. 1987 
9.11. Soda lye in orange juice 9. 6. 1987 
. 9.12. Biotoxin in raw mussels 17. 6. 1987 
9.13. Canned mussels poisoned by Saxitoxine. See case 9.5 of 16. 2. 1987 28. 8. 1987 
9.14. PSP-toxin in live Portugese molluscs 1. 9. 1987 
9.15. PSP in mussels 8. 10. 1987 
9.16. Residues of sulphur and copper in Italian grapes 8. 10. 1987 
9.17. Bacteria Listeria monocytogene in cheese of the type 'Vacherin Mont 
d'Or' 27. 11. 1987 
9.18. Shellfish poisoning in Canada 14. 12. 1987 
10. Cases in 1988 
10.1. Orange juice contaminated with potassium ferrocyanide 8. 1. 1988 
10.2. Salmonella Typhimurium 124 in a sausage of the salami type 2. 2. 1988 
Total 122 (2 February 1988) 
No C 124/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 11. 5. 88 
ANNEX III 
No 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 
25. 
26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 
31. 
32. Non-food cases received 
up to 31 December 1987 
Toy pistol 
New Grobots etc. expanding 
novelties 
Toy pistol 
Portable radio 
Modelling clay 
Insect killer 
Caravan 
Aquarium light 
Stairway lift for wheelchair 
Steam sterilizer for false teeth 
Hot air balloon (miniature) 
Toy pistol 
Motor winch 
Immersion heater (not fixed) 
Hammock 
Soldering iron 
Immersion heater (fixed) 
Soldering iron 
Extension lead 
Smoothing iron 
Light fixture 
Free-standing electric adaptor 
Industrial fuses 
Two-pin plug 
Electric radiator (brand 1) 
Electric radiator (brand 2) 
Junction box 
Electric radiator (brand 3) 
Condenser (brand 1) 
Condenser (brand 2) 
Deep-fryer 
Aquarium filter Apparent danger 
fire from hot particles of cap 
if swallowed, expands in the stomach 
ricochet of bullets 
electric shock 
case did not satisfy criteria 
electric shock 
1. gas poisoning 
2. fire 
3. electric shock 
electric shock 
uncontrolled descent 
scalding 
fire 
too powerful 
backfiring 
fire 
fall 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
explosion 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock Date received 
28. 5. 1985 
20. 11. 1985 
20.2. 1986 
20. 2. 1986 
2.4.1986 
27. 6. 1986 
27.6. 1986 
4. 7. 1986 
4. 7. 1986 
4.7. 1986 
4.7. 1986 
4.7. 1986 
4. 7. 1986 
25. 7. 1986 
11.7.1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
29. 7. 1986 
12.9. 1986 
11. 5. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 124/15 
No 
33. 
34. 
35. 
36. 
37. 
38. 
39. 
40. 
41. 
42. 
43. 
44. 
45. 
46. 
47. 
48. 
49. 
50. 
51. 
52. 
53. 
54. 
55. 
56. 
57. 
58. 
59. Non-food cases received 
up to 31 December 1987 
Aquarium light 
Toy electric oven 
Electric fan heater 
Magic love meter 
Christmas tree lights 
Electric coffee maker 
Insta-mouss (miniature expanding 
toy vehicle) 
Screwdriver/mains tester 
Watch/lighter 
Slide-on bunk bed 
Toy push-chair 
Push-chair 
Tin opener 
Toy push-chair 
Gas cooker 
Immersion heater 
Self-heating food-container 
Piggy bank 
Electric storage heater 
Radiant electric fire 
Parts for fuse 
Halogene table lamp 
Halogene table lamp 
Spin drier 
Electric kitchen slicer 
Hand-held brush vacuum cleaner 
Musical clown doll Apparent danger 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
methanol 
electric shock 
electric shock 
expansion after swallowing 
electric shock 
setting fire to clothing 
fall 
to fingers 
collapse of frame 
risk of handle flying off 
to fingers 
burns, explosion 
electric shock 
escape of caustic substances 
poisoning 
electric shock/excessive heat 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
electric shock 
laceration to hands 
electric shock 
electric shock 
choking Date received 
12.9.1986 
20.10.1986 
24. 11. 1986 
27. 12. 1986 
27.12.1986 
20. 1. 1987 
2. 3. 1987 
28.5. 1987 
17.6. 1987 
2.6.1987 
18.8. 1987 
21.8. 1987 
15.9. 1987 
15.9. 1987 
29.10.1987 
12.11.1987 
30.10.1987 
24. 11.1987 
11.12. 1987 
11. 12.1987 
11.12.1987 
11.12.1987 
11.12. 1987 
11.12. 1987 
11.12.1987 
11.12. 1987 
10.12. 1987