CELEX: 51990PC0172
Language: en
Date: 1990-05-04
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION AMENDING DECISION 89/45/EEC ON A COMMUNITY SYSTEM FOR THE RAPID EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON DANGERS ARISING FROM THE USE OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                        COM(90) 172 final
                                                        Brussels, 4  May 1990
                         REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION
  on a Community system for the rapid exchange of information on dangers
       arising from the use of consumer products in accordance with
           Article 8 of the Council Decision of 21 December 1988
                                     (89/45/EEC)
                                 Proposal f o r a
                               COUNCIL DECISION
 amending Decision 89/45/EEC on a Community system f o r the rapid exchange
    of information on clangers a r i s i n g from the use of consumer products
                        (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---                                   -2-
I.  INTRODUCTION
    The Commission has prepared this report in accordance with Article 8 of
    Decision 89/45/EEC of 21 December            1988 on a Community system for the
    rapid   exchange   of   information       on  dangers    arising     from   the  use  of
    consumer    products.     Decision     89/45/EEC    is    the   successor    to  Council
    Decision 34/133/EEC which set up the System in March 1984,                   since which
                                                                 1
    time there have been two reports on its working
II. DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE SYSTEMS FUNCTIONS
    The   Rapid   Exchange   System      has   functioned    as    a  general    short  term
    surveillance and alarm system since 1984 and is designed to cope with
    cases of     serious   and   immediate      danger   to    consumers    occurring   when
    everyday products are either not manufactured to the required standard
    or are badly conceived in the first place.
    Article 2 of the present          Decision established        that the system should
    cover all products intended for use by consumers except those intended
    exclusively for professional use and those which under other Community
    instruments are the subject of equivalent notification procedures.
    The System has been operated by the Commission,                in accordance with the
    detailed procedures approved by the Commission on 31.7.1985 as provided
    for under Article 4 of the Decision.              Member     States appoint      contact
    points,    consisting     of persons from the food products sectors and the
    non-food sectors,      who are      responsible    for transmitting       and  receiving
    notifications from the Commission.             For the more efficient functioning
    of the    system   the   Commission      itself   has   a   contact    point   for  food
    products and a contact point for non-food products.                The food network is
    managed by D6 III and the non-food network is managed by the Consumer
1. Interim Report COM (86) 562 of 24.10.86
    Report C0MC88) 121 of 11.3.88
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                -3-
Policy Service.        Whenever a Member State adopts a measure to prevent,
restrict,    or attach particular conditions to the marketing or use of
consumer products because of the risks they pose to consumers,                 it must
notify the appropriate Commission contact points.                The Commission,     in
turn,   transmits that information to the other Member States,                in order
that they may take appropriate action.            All Member States must report to
the Commission on the action they have taken.              It is especially provided
for   under   the    Decision     that,     "whenever    possible,     the   producer,
distributor    or   importer    of   the  product     shall   be  consulted".     Prior
consultation    is not     only a valuable means         of checking    the available
information but has also a          preventive effect:       producers and importers
may voluntarily take action by recalling              or withdrawing products when
approached by the competent authorities even             in cases in which the risk
is not established to an extent that would allow action to be taken by
Member States.       Prior consultation       also permits     to avoid    unnecessary
conflict between producers or importers and the authorities.
The Informal Rapid Exchange System for foodstuffs has been in existence
since 1978 and       operates with the following variation in procedure.
    A "red" telephone,        that is a direct line installed in the relevant
    "Food-products" service at the Commission as well as a telex link
    are  used    by    the   contact    point    in   each   Member   state   to   send
    information directly to the Commission.            The Commission evaluates the
    information     received    and   is   able    to  automatically     transmit   the
    message received to the other contact points.
The way notifications are dealt with varies considerably between Member
States,     owing    to differences      in   the   responsibilities,      powers   and
structures of the authorities responsible.              However,    in general terms,
all Member States follow the following steps:
 ---pagebreak---                             -4-
 1. The contact point in the national authority designated under Article
    5 (normally a Ministry) decides which other Ministry or Ministries
    are competent to deal with the notification.           If there is no other
    body to accept the file,      it is dealt with by the national authority
    itself (Belgium, Denmark, Greece).
 2. A check on the market is then carried out to ascertain whether the
    product is on sale.    In Portugal, enquiry is also made of the customs
    department  to  know   if   there  is any    record   of   the  product    being
    imported.    In the case of certain countries (Belgium - for certain
    product  areas  -   Greece,     France,     Ireland,     Italy,     Luxembourg,
    Netherlands,Portugal and United Kingdom) the national authority has
    at its disposal an     Inspectorate which      is able to make this check
    throughout the territory of the Member States.
 3. If and when a notified product is found on sale,          most countries have
    it tested   for  the   reported   danger   in an    official   or    officially
    approved laboratory.      If the danger is confirmed,       subsequent action
    depends on the legal powers available.
 4. In certain countries (Denmark,      Germany,    Greece, Netherlands, Spain,
    France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and United Kingdom), any
    consumer  product   can   be  either   temporarily    blocked    or   banned  as
    appropriate.      In   Belgium    this   power   only    extends    to   certain
    categories of products which causes problems when action needs to be
    taken concerning non-regulated products.         In the Federal Republic of
    Germany the power to block has certain          limitations concerning the
    withdrawal of products from shops.
Ninety-eight notifications were received        since the    last report     in 1988
and a list of these notifications for the food and non-food sectors are
attached to this report at annex II.
 ---pagebreak---                                -5-
    Coordination with Member States
    The  Consultative    Committee    which   assists     the    Commission    in  the
    implementation   and  management    of  the   System    was   created   under   the
    original Decision and was continued under the Decision 89/45/EEC.               For
    several reasons this Committee has not met since July 18 1988.            This was
    mainly due to discussions within the Commission's services on how to
    improve the system and the discussion on the revision of the detailed
    procedures.    However in the future the Commission will ensure that this
    Committee meets on a frequent basis.
III.EQUIVALENT SYSTEMS
    Article 2 of Decision     89/45/EEC provides      for equivalent     notification
    systems to be excluded.      These comprise of pharmaceuticals,        which come
    under Directives 75/319 and 81/851 arid animals and animal products,             to
    which Directive 82/894 applies.
    In addition to the above,     the following are now regarded as equivalent
    systems  :   Products of   animal origin     as far    as they    are covered    by
    Directive 89/662/EEC,    and the system for radiological emergencies which
    covers   widespread     contamination     of    products      (Council    Decision
    87/600/EURATOM).
IV. EVALUATION
    When the Council adopted the Decision 89/45/EEC continuing the System it
    invited the Commission to reexamine the       system with a view to improving
    its operation if necessary.
     It has  been   suggested   that   the  present    arrangement    gives   rise   to
    duplication in the handling of notifications and to cases where the need
    for a strict checking     of the    criteria   before    the  transmission    of a
 ---pagebreak---                            -6-
notification to Member States has not been respected.           Identification of
products by Member States receiving the notifications continued              to be
another problem.
1) The Avoidance of Duplication
  Duplication  can arise in two situations :
  a. Where the same product is reported to both DG III and the Consumer
     Service.    However this     is not   seen as    a major    problem and   has
                                   3.
     occurred in only two cases
  b. Where a particularly difficult or serious case is discussed in two
     or more committees, as happened with contaminated olive oil.
  Each  Commission   network   at   present   informs    the  other   network   of
  notifications received under the Rapid Exchange System.            However,   in
  order to solve the question of duplication of meetings the detailed
  procedures have been modified to allow the Commission to ensure that,
  whenever possible, in each case the discussions which take place in the
  different relevant committees will be carried out in a joint session of
  these committees.      In those cases     which    fall  within   the  scope of
  procedures  and/or   committees    provided   for   by  Community    legislation
  governing specific products or product sectors,           the  latter shall be
  involved.     When   the   Advisory    Committee    is  not   involved   and  no
  provisions are made for     joint meetings,       the contact    points of the
  Member States will be informed of        any exchange    of views    with other
  committees.
 1.  Sugar confectionery animals, December 1988
 2.  Self-heating food containers, June 1988
 ---pagebreak---                             -7-
2) Verification that the issue of a notification is appropriate
Such a verification     is  important because      of the    risk of   unjustified
economic   repercussions.       Obviously   this   risk occurs only       where the
product   implicated  originates in    a country      other   than  the   notifying
country.
The possibility of issuing a notification           for a product which is not
really a danger or no longer a danger could be eliminated by exhaustive
enquiries and discussions.       However,    such a process conflicts with the
need for the system to operate rapidly.          The essential requirements of
the System are two-fold :
a)   that the criteria ^ f Article 1. (1) be respected;
b)   that   the   notifications     be   issued    to    Member    States    without
     unnecessary loss of time.
One solution to the problem of inappropriate notifications is to check
the situation with the Member State in which the product originates.
Thus when a notification is received by the Commission in respect of a
product   which originates     in a Member State       other than    the notifying
Member State,    the Commission may,      if it considers that there is prima
 facie compliance with the provisions of Articles 1 and 2,             at the same
time as issuing the notification to Member States,            contact the country
 presumed to be the country of origin of the product to carry out the
 necessary verifications.     Provisions are made in the detailed procedures
 to complement the information received from the Member States.
 Theoretically,     this   procedure    should    minimise     the   risk    of  any
 unjustified economic repercussions in the country of origin.            Naturally,
 non-Member States would not benefit from this safeguard.
 ---pagebreak---                               -8-
3)   Ease of Identification of Products
                         i       <   i i    »
     Another   problem     outlined      in    the    previous    report    was   that
     notifications received did not always contain sufficient information
     for the products to be easily identifiable on the market.               This  has
     not been completely resolved.           The original intention was to use a
     very exhaustive list of information which was drawn up in 1985.              This
     list was,   however,    never followed by the Member States as it was
     found to be impractical.       Certain details cannot always be included
     e.g.   when the product    originates from a third country,            it is not
     always possible to indicate the manufacturer and/or the importer.              In
     the interests of speed the notification is then sent out without the
     missing detail.    If the information subsequently becomes available it
     is then sent to the Member State separately.             A photo of the product
     is faxed separately to the Member State when available.             This was not
     specified in Article 1(2) of Decision 89/45/EEC but was subsequently
     undertaken by the Commission on its own initiative to help Member
     States identify the product.
   CONCLUSIONS
   The  Commission    considers    that     the    System    continues   to   function
   satisfactorily and that the System           has   proved   its usefulness     as a
   warning system.
   By enabling dangerous products to be removed from the market the System
   has  contributed   to the prevention        of accidents.        Also by focusing
   attention on those products or categories of products which have been
   the  subject of   frequent measures        in Member     States it   establishes a
   basis for preventive action, both at Member State and Community level.
   Regarding the relationship between the food and non-food networks,              the
   Commission believes that it is better -for the two networks to continue
   to function separately,     to allow the two types of products, which have
   nothing in common but the Decision,          to be dealt with by staff who have
   the  necessary   expertise.        However     any   problems   arising  from  this
   indépendance could be resolved by having more precision in the detailed
   procedures and more coordination between the^Services.
 ---pagebreak---                           -9-
After lengthy discussion between the services concerned     the Commission
has come to the conclusion that Decision 89/45/EEC shall be extended,
on the assumption that it will be abrogated at the moment of the entry
into force of the General Product Safety Directive.
No important    changes have  been  introduced  but minor  amendments  are
necessary   to   make   the   Decision   operational.    It is intended to
align Article    7 of the Decision   on the Advisory Committee with the
general procedure for Advisory Committees foreseen in Council Decision
87/373/EEC and as it is now proposed to modify Decision 89/45/EEC,     the
same detailed procedures as for that decision will continue to apply,
until amended by the Advisory Committee.
It will be in the context of the General Product Safety Directive that
an  overall    solution  can  be  found  to  the  problems  posed  by  the
multiplicity of information procedures now in operation.
 ---pagebreak---                      -1 CD-
Annex I  : proposal   for   a Council  Decision  modifying  Decision
           89/45/EEC
Annex II : list of notifications received since last report
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 11 -•
                                   Proposal for a
                                  COUNCIL DECISION
     amending Decision 89/45/EEC on a Community system for the rapid exchange
        of information on dangers arising from the use of consumer products
 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,        and
 in particular Article 235 thereof,
                                                         (1)
 Having regard to the proposal from the Commission           ,
                                                               (2)
 Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament           ,
 Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee         ,
                                      (4)         . ....
 Whereas Council Decision 89/45/EEC       extended the system established by Council
 Decision 84/133/EEC (5) until 30 June 1990;
"Whereas it is necessary to extend and amend Decision 89/45/EEC;
Whereas without prejudice to other Commission proposals on consumer safety in
 particular,    the Community system for the rapid exchange of information should
now be established,      on the basis of experience acquired,        for an unlimited
period;
 Whereas, an advisory committee shall be set up, to which proposals for the
 detailed procedures shall be referred, and which may be consulted on problems
 concerning the administration of the system;
 (1)
       0J No C 124, 11.5.1988, p. 9.
 C2)
       0J No C 235, 12.9.1988, p. 174.
 (3)
       0J No C 175, 4.7.1988, p. 11.
 (4)
       0J No L 17, 21.1.1989, p. 51.
 <5)
       0J No L 70, 13.3.1984, p. 16.
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 12 -
Whereas the Commission shall submit a report on the operation of the system at
least every two years,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION :
                                     Article 1
Decision 89/45/EEC is amended as follows :
1.    Article 4 is replaced by the following :
                                     "Article 4
      Detailed procedures for the transmission of the information referred to
      in Article 1 shall be adopted by the Commission following the procedure
      laid down    in Article 7."
2.    Article 7 is replaced by the following :
                                     "Article 7
     1.   The Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an advisory nature,
           composed of two representatives per Member State and chaired by the
           representative of the Commission.
    2.    The committee may examine any problem relating to the implementation
          and administration of the information system which is referred to it
          by its chairman,   either on his own initiative or at the request of a
          representative of a Member State.
    3.    The representative of the commission shall submit to the committee a
          draft of the measures to be taken or the text on which its opinion is
          requested.     The committee shall deliver   its opinion on the draft,
          within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the
          urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.
 ---pagebreak---                                          - 13 -
         The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member
         State shall have the right to ask to have its position     recorded in
         the minutes.
         The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered
         by the committee.    It shall inform the committee of the manner in
         which its opinion has been taken into account."
3.   Article 8 is replaced by the following :
                                      "Article 8
     The Commission shall submit a report on the operation of the system at least
     every two years."
                                       Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels,                                                 For the Council
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 14 -
                                                                     ANNEX
Page 1.                       RAPID ALERT SYSTEM
   Liste des sujets qui ont fait l'objet d'un échange rapide d'informations
                              depuis janvier 1988
     List of subjects which have been dealt with by the rapid exchange of
                        information since January 1988
Cas alimentaires reçus jusqu'au 23 février 1990
Food cases received up to 23 February 1990
                                                                   Date reçue
                                                                   Date received
         Cas en 1988
         Cases in 1988
3/88     Fromage                                                  -16-02-1988
         avec moisi
         Cheddar
         with mould
4/88     Huile d'olive                                             24-03-1988
         contaminée par tetrachloroéthylène
         Olive oiI
         contaminated with tetrachloroéthylène
5/88     Verres                                                    24-03-1988
         contenant plomb et cadmium
         Drinking glasses
         containing lead and cadmium
6/88     Moules                                                    14-04-1988
         contenant Biotoxines
         Mussels
         containing Biotoxins
7/88     Anchois en conserve                                       14-04-1988
         l'huiles contaminées par tetrachloroéthylène
         Cans o fanchovies
         oil contaminated with tetrachloroéthylène
8/88     Pamplemousses                                             26-04-1988
         contaminées
         Grapefruits
         contaminated
9/88     Aliments lactés granules sans gluten pour nourissons-     29-04-1988
         contaminées à "Salmonella Bredeney"
         Granulated gluten-free milk based products for
         infants
         contaminated with "Salmonella Bredeney"
 ---pagebreak---                                     -15 -
Page 2.                      RAPID ALERT SYSTEM
10/88   Echantillons de lait pasteurisé                       02-05-1988
        présence de substances "Inhibitrices"
        Samples of pasteurized milk
        presence of the substance "Inhibitrices"
11/88   Emblème du pâté de Bruxelles                          20-05-1988
        contenant Salmonella Heidelberg
        Emblem Brussels pâté
        containing Salmonella Heidelberg
12/88   Conserves du bacon                                    25-05-1988
        contaminés
        Canned bacon
        contaminated
13/88   Emballage auto-chauffants de denrées alimentaires     06-06-1988
        dangereuses
        Self-heating food-containers
        dangerous
14/88   Menaces anti-Israéliennes d'une organisation inconnue 09-06-1988
        agrumes empoisonnes
        Anti Israelian threats from an unknown organisation
        poisoned citrus fruits
15/88   Mollusques vivants                                    02-08-1988
        contenant le toxine PSP
        Live molluscs
        containing PSP toxin
16/88   Veaux                                                 01-08-1988
        hormones
        Veal
        hormones
17/88   Mollusque bivalves                                    16-08-1988
        contaminées par Salmonella
        Molluscs
        contaminated with Salmonella
18/88   Aliments des nourissions                              18-08-1988
        contenant Salmonella Thompson
        Infant ofrmulae
        containing Salmonella Thompson
19/88   Oeufs cru                                             30-08-1988
        contaminée par Salmonella
        Raw eggs
        contaminated by Salmonella
 ---pagebreak---                                                      - 16 -
 Rage 3.                                 RAPID ALERT SYSTEM
 20/88   Huiles et les moules                               01-09-1988
         contaminé par PSP
         Oysters and mussels
         contaminated w i t h PSP
 21/88   Cola •                                             07-09-1988
         contenant T r i c h l o r o é t h y l è n e
         Cola
         containing Trichloroéthylène
 22/88     Mayonaise                                           20-09-1988
           contaminée par des cristaux de sulfate
           Mayonaise
            contaminated with cristalsulfate
  23/88   Vacherin mont d'or                                 04-11-1988
          contaminé par Salmonella
          Vacherin mont d'or
          contaminated by Salmonella
  24/88   Asperges                                           11-11-1988
          botulisme
          Asparagus
          botulisme
  25/88   Figues sèches                                      18-11-1988
          contaminée par Aflatoxine
          Dried figs
          contaminated by Aflatoxine
  26/88   Salami                                             21-11-1988
          contaminé par Salmonella
          Salami
          contaminated by Salmonella
 27/88    Estomacs de porc congelés                          09-12-1988
          contaminé par Salmonella
          Frozen pork stomachs
          contaminated by Salmonella
 2 8/88   Anguille congelés                                  09-12-1988
          Importation
          Frozen eels
         Importation
 2-9/88  Confiserie au sucre sous forme d'animal             10-12-1988
         réalisées sur fil
         Sugarconfectionary in animal shape
         wi re-mounted
30488    Queues de crevettes                                10-12-88
         plomb
         Tails of prawns
         lead
 ---pagebreak---                                          - 17 -
 page 4.                         RAPID ALERT SYSTEM
                                                                  29_12_1988
 31/88      Poisson
            avec Zoonose
            Fish
            with Zoonosis
                                                                 29-12-1988
32/88      Sanglier trouves morts
           la pest porcine classique
           Wild boar found dead
           the classical swine fever
           Cas en 1989
           Cases in 1989
 1/89      Viande de porc                                      18-01-89
           Salmonella
           Fresh pork meat
           Salmonella
 2/89     Lavignons                                             31-01-1989
          PSP
          Scrobicularia plana
         PSP
 3/89    Poisson                                                03-02-1989
         Zoonose
         Fish
         Zoonosis
4/89     Conserves de crevettes de de crabe                     06-02-1989
         Présence d'EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetate de
         calcium disodique)
         Canned prawns and canned crab
         presence of CDEDTA (calcium disodium ethylene diamine
         tetra acetate)
5/89     Couteaux et  Poulpes, conserves petits                 07-02-1989
         présence de   cadmium
         razor-clams  and octopus canned
        presence of   cadmium
6/89     Fromages du type "Camembert"                           17-02-1989
        bactérie Listeria Monocytogene
        Cheeses of the type "Camembert"
       bacteria Listeria Monocytogene
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 18
 Page 5.                      RAPID ALERT SYSTEM
         Mollusque bivalves sur les Littarol meridional 28-02-1989
  7/89   toxines (PSP)
         Bivalves molluscs of the south Coast
         toxins (PSP)
  8/89   Mollusque bivalves                             14-03-1939
         toxines (PSP)
         Bivalves molluscs
         toxins (PSP)
  9/89   Fruits poisonés                                14-03-1989
         cyanide
         Poisoned fruit
         cyanide
         Vins                                           31-03-1989
  10/89  contenant traces de verre
         Wines
         containing glass
  11/89  Poisson                                        17-04-1989
         histamina
         Fish
         contaminated with hystamina
  12/89  Coquillages                                    25-05-1989
         dinophysis
         Shellfish
         dinophysis
  13/89  Yaghourt aromatisée par noisette               13-06-1989
         Botulism
         Yoghourt flavoured with hazelnut
         Botulism
 14/89   Champignons                                    13-06-1989
         staphylocoques
         Mushrooms
         staphylococcal
15/89    Mollusques vivants                             12-06-1989
         toxinePSP
         Live mussels
         PSP toxin
16/89    Racines de bardane                             29-06-1989
         Belladone
         Roots of burdoch
         Deadly nightshade
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 19 -
Page 6.                        RAPID ALERT SYSTEM
        Pâté
17/89                                                       06-07-1989
        Listeria monocytogenes
        Pâté
        Listeria monocytogenes
 18/89  (/,ix destiné à la production du glaces             11-07-1989
         Salmonella enteritidis
        Base material used for the manufacture of ice cream
         Salmonella enteritidis
 19/89  Mollusque bivalves                                   29-07-1989
         Algues toxiques du type "dinophysis"
        Bivalves molluscs
         Toxic algue of the type "dinophysis"
 20/89   Mayonaise                                           22-08-1989
         Salmonella
         Mayonaise
         Salmonella
 21/89   Sardines dans l'huile vegetable                     18-09-1989
         dépravé
         Sardines in vegetable oil
         spoiled
 22/89   Lait caille de pois chinois mouillés                18-09-1989
         Bacillus cereus
         Wet soybean curd with red rice and brine
         Bacillus cereus
 23/89   Pistaches fraiches                                  18-09-1989
         Af latoxines
         Pistachio nuts
         Af latoxines
 24/89
         Salami                                              28-11-1989
         contaminé par Salmonella
         Salami
         contaminated by Salmonella
 25/89   Lapin surgelée                                      28-11-1989
         residue de pesticides
         Rabbits frozen
         residue of pesticides
 26/89   Coquillages                                         15-12-1989
         Salmonella
         Shell-fish
         Salmonella
 27/89
         Fromage                                             15-12-1989
         Listeria monocytogene
         Cheese
         Listeria monocytogene
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 20 -
Page 7.                   RAPID ALERT SYSTEM
28/89   Fromage                              15-12-1989
        Salmonella DUBLIN
        Cheese
        Salmonella DUBLIN
        Cas en 1990
        Cases in 1990
1/90    Poivre                               18-01-1990
        Ricinus communis
        Allspice
        Ricinus communis
2/90    eau mineral                          16-02-1990
        benzene
        mineral water
        benzene
3/90    Sardines                             23-02-1990
        histamines
        Sardines
        histamines
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 21 -
Page 1.                       RAPID ALERT SYSTEM
Cas non-alimentaires reçus jusqu'au 3 janvier 1990
Non-food cases received up to 3 January 1990
Cas en 1988                                               Date reçue
Cases in 1988                                             Date received
1/88     Jeu de patience (Labyrinthe)                     12-01-1988
         empoisonnement au mercure
         Toy maze
         Mercury poisoning
2/88     Machine à café électrique                        28-01-1988
         choc électrique
         electric coffee maker
         electric shock
3/88     Jouets gonflants en plastique                    11-02-1988
         occlusion intestinale en cas d'ingestion
         expanding toys made from hard plastic
         intestinal obstruction
4/88     Crayons de cire (jouets)                         29-03-1988
         empoisonnement au plomb
         wax crayons
         lead poisoning
5/88     Bougeoirs                                        30-03-1988
         danger potential d'incendie
         candlesticks
         fi re
 6/88    Lit-cage d'enfant                                26-04-1988
         danger d'étouffement ou de coupure
         child's cot
         strangulation or cuts
 7/88    Jouet 'Crazy Hand'                               13-05-1988
         étouffement
          Crazy Hand
          choking
 8/88     'Hotpot* récipient auto-chauffant pour aliments 02-06-1988
          contamination des aliments
          self-heating food container
          food contamination
 9/88     Robot ménagère                                   06-07-1988
          sectionnement des phalanges
          electric food mixer
          severing of fingers
 10/88    anneau dentaire (type de hochet)                 08-08-1988
          étouffement
          teething ring
          choking or suffocation
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 22
Page 2.                       RAPID ALERT SYSTEM
11/88   araignée jouet                                         07-09-1988
        risque d'avalement
        toy spider
        danger of swallowing
12/83   pneus d'automobile 'Danubiana'                         06-10-1988
        désintégration avec la vitesse
        'Danubiana' car tyres
        disintegration with speed
13/8$   préservatifs                                           21-11-1988
        l'éclatement et la porosité
        prophylactics (condoms)
        puncturing and porosity
14/88   confiserie en forme d'animaux                          19-12-1988
        produit tenu ensemble par des morceaux de fils de fer
        confectionery animals
        held together by pieces of wire
15/88   lampe de table avec 'interrupteur' dimmer              28-11-1988
        electrocution
        table lamp with dimmer switch
        electrocution
16/88   boule décorative pour arbre de Noel                     13-12-1988
         isolation inadéquate, inflammable, peut facilement
        être ouvert, donnant accès aux éléments sous tension
         Christmas tree ball
        poor insulation, flammable, can be easily opened thus
        exposing live parts
 17/88  véhicule tout-terrain à trois roues                     13-12-1988
         capotage
         3-wheel all-terrain motorised vehicles
         overturning
         Cas en 1989
         Cases in 1989
 1/89    lampe de table avec poupée                           13- 01-1989
         chcc électrique
         table lamp with doll
         electric shock
 2/89    'autel' de la Sainte Vierge, gondole, tableau          28-02-1989
         choc électrique
         Virgin Mary 'Altar', gondola, picture
         electric shock
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 23 -
Page 3.                       RAPID ALERT SYSTEM
3/89    Grille-pain                                             15-02-1989
        choc électrique
        toaster
        electric shock
4/89    lampe-applique                                          06-03-1989
        choc électrique
        wall-light
        electric shock
5/89    porte-clé gadget                                        08-03-1989
        ingestion ou inhalation de produits chimiques,
        brûlure de peau, feu
        novelty key ring
        ingestion or inhalation of toxic chemicals, burns,
        f i re
6/89    lampe de table halogène                                 28-06-1989
        choc électrique
        halogen table lamp
        electric shock
7/89    barre de gymnastique                                    30-06-1989
        ne résiste pas au poids d'une personne de 75 kg ou plus
        exercise bar
        does not support weight of person over 75 kg
8/89    luminaire pour ventilateur de plafond                   12-07-1989
        choc électrique
         light fitting for ceiling fan
        electric shock
9/89    masque de plongée                                        10-08-1989
        asphyxie - taux élevé de C0-
        diving mask
        asphyxia - high level of C0 ?
 10/89  briquets ayant l'apparence de jouets                     22-08-1989
        peuvent provoquer brûlure ou incendie
         lighters designed to look like toys
         could cause burns or fires
 11/89   luminaire 'parachute' suspendu                          02-10-1989
         choc électrique
         Parachute lamp
         electric shock
 12/89   pneus du type remodelés 'Goldline'                      02-11-1989
         n'ont pas passé les tests effectués à des vitesses
         inférieures à leurs seuils 'S' (113mph/180ph)
         Goldline tyres
         when tested failed at speeds below 'S' rating
         (113mph/180ph)
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 24 -
Page 4.                      RAPID ALERT SYSTEM
13/89   oeufs en chocolat avec un jouet à l'intérieur -         09-11-1989
        'Kinder Surprize'
        étouffement
        chocolate egg containing toy - 'Kinder Surprize'
        choking
14/89   Latex liquide, nouveauté pour la veille de la toussaint 14-11-1989
        inhalation - nausée, vertige, problèmes respiratoires,
        peut être dangereux pour les yeux et la peau
        liquid latex
        inhalation - nausea, dizziness, respiratory problems,
        could be dangerous to the eyes and skin
15/89   appareil épilatoire électrique                          21-11-1989
        choc électrique
        electric depilatory apparatus
        electric shock
16/89   cafetière électrique                                    23-11-1989
        choc électrique
        electric coffee-maker
        electric shock
17/89   poêle mobile (de chauffage) à pétrole lampant           08-12-1989
        (kérosène) sans dispositif de sécurité
        intoxication par le monoxyde de carbone
        portable paraffin heater without safety device
        carbon monoxide poisoning
        Cas en 1990
        Cases in 1990
1/90    cruches à eau en céramique                              03-01-1990
        empoisonnement au plomb
        ceramic water jugs
         lead poisoning
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                      ISSN 0254-1475
                                                              COM (90) 172 final
                                                      DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                         05 15
                                 Catalogue number : CB-CO-90-198-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-77-60052-7
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
L-2985 Luxembourg