WRITTEN QUESTION E-3189/03 by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission. Explosion of Nokia mobile phone batteries.
Date: 2003-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consumer protection, defective product, electricity storage device, mobile phone, product safety

C 78 E/484

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Although there are no set procedures for the speedy resolution of disputes over cross-border transactions,
the Commission has set up, with the help of the Member States, two networks which have created
mechanisms to help consumers enforce their rights.

Over the last 10 years,
the European Consumer Centres network help European consumers better
understand how the internal market works for them and provide assistance to consumers when they
encounter problems with cross-border transactions. The European Consumer Centre will notably enter into
contact with the trader to try to reach an amicable settlement. There are currently 15 European Consumer
Centres established in 13 Member States.

The European Extra Judicial network was launched as a pilot phase in October 2001. 17 Clearing Houses
established in each Member State, as well as Iceland and Norway provide dissatisfied consumers with
information and support to introduce a case to an appropriate Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme in
another country. They also help monitor the case.

The Commission is currently preparing a report reviewing the activities of the network and setting future
perspectives for it. This report will be presented to the Parliament and the Council in due course.

Information about these procedures is directly available from the Commission’s homepage (European
Consumer Centres network (5) and the European Extra Judicial (6)).

(1) OJ L 171, 7.7.1999.
(2) OJ L 144, 4.6.1997.
(3) http://europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/guarantees/index_en.htm
(4) http://europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/dist_sell/index_en.htm
(5) http://europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/redress/compl/euroguichet/index_en.htm
(6) http://europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/redress/out_of_court/index_en.htm

(2004/C 78 E/0506)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3189/03

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(27 October 2003)

Subject: Explosion of Nokia mobile phone batteries

In an article which appeared on 16 October 2003, the Brussels daily newspaper ‘La Libre Belgique’
published the results of a survey conducted by the Belgian consumer organisation ‘Test-Achats’
into
various incidents in recent months in which the rechargeable batteries of Nokia mobile phones exploded.

These cases occurred mainly in Belgium and the Netherlands and other cases have been reported in
Switzerland, Norway and Vietnam. According to the newspaper report a mobile phone exploded in its
owner’s pocket very recently in the Netherlands.

Is the Commission aware of this problem? What measures does it intend to take to protect European
consumers?

Does it not consider it necessary to take precautionary action by suspending sales of these portable phones
in the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(20 November 2003)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission’s answers to Written Questions P-3145/03 from
Mr van Velzen (1) and P-3152/03 from Mrs Plooij-Van Gorsel (2).

(1) See page 474.
(2) See page 476.