Concern Regarding Safety of Chinese Goods

By Margot Parker, Head of European Communications and Legislation, European Promotional Products Association (EPPA).

There is global concern about the safety of Chinese goods. With exports ranging from toothpaste to toys many products are being recalled or banned in various countries after being found to be below standard or containing dangerous chemicals.

EU Consumer Commissioner, Meglena Kuneva, has met up with Li Changjiang, head of the China product safety watchdog, who has said, "Beijing will submit a report on prevention and follow up actions by October."

The report will be in advance of the proposed meeting already planned between the Chinese Premier and the EU Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, in November.

In 2006, the EU identified 924 products from unsafe lighters to unsafe baby strollers to short-circuiting kettles as too dangerous to be sold in its 27 member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. China was the country of origin in most of these cases.

The Chinese have promised stricter surveillance and severe punishment for those who violate safety rules. It is important for the Chinese to reassure consumer confidence and show trade partners that they are serious.

I noticed a leaflet recently in my dentists surgery highlighting dangerous toothpaste which carried the brand name of one of the big producers which gave indications that these counter-fake products were in fact coming into the UK via the middle east, so it just shows we need to be extra vigilant in keeping an eye out for those products which could risk our health.

www.euractiv.com carries further info on this important issue between China and the EU.

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